- MPs on Thursday agreed with the President's reservations on the Bill and unanimously voted to delete all the clauses.
- It would have taken two thirds of the 349 MPs (233) to defeat the President's recommendation to withdraw the Bill.
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MPs have voted to delete all 65 clauses in the impugned Finance Bill, 2024 as requested by President William Ruto.
Ruto declined to sign the Bill on June 26 and referred it back to Parliament for deletion of all the clauses in the 135-page piece of legislation.
It followed a series of street protests that turned bloody on June 25 resulting in the death of several protesters and the torching of a section of Parliament by angry demonstrators.
"In exercise of the powers conferred to me by Article 115(1)(b) of the Constitution, and having reservations on the content of the Bill in its entirety, I decline to assent to the Finance Bill, 2024, and refer the Bill for reconsideration by the National Assembly with the recommendation for deletion of the clauses thereof," the President's memorandum read.
MPs on Thursday agreed with the President's reservations on the Bill and unanimously voted to delete all the clauses.
“I would like to report that the Committee of the whole House has considered the President’s recommendation to the Finance Bill, National Assembly No. 30 of 2024, and its approval therefore without amendments therefore deleting all the clauses of the Bill,” Committee on Delegated Legislation chairperson Gladys Boss said.
It would have taken two-thirds of the 349 MPs (233) to defeat the President's recommendation to withdraw the Bill.
The Motion for deletion of the clauses was moved by Majority leader Kimani Ichung'wah and seconded by South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro.
“I want to thank all the members that have participated in this, they agree with the reservations by the President in regards to the Bill and with a very heavy heart, be that as it may, I second,” Osoro said.
Osoro was one of the MPs who voted Yes for the Bill and has since remained unapologetic for his stance saying he would vote the same way were the Bill to be reintroduced in Parliament.
“Following this decision, the Bill has been rejected in its entirety,” temporary speaker. I wish to clarify that the import of the House decision is that the Bill is lost. Consequently, no provision that was contained in the Bill shall have any legal effect,” Gilgil MP Martha Wangari said.
“In this regard, honourable members, strictly speaking, there’s no Bill for the speaker to present to His Excellency the President for assent as contemplated under Article 115 (IV) of the constitution. To signify the decision that the House has taken this afternoon, I shall therefore only convey the effect of the decision which is that the Finance Bill National Assembly Bill No. 30 of 2024 has been rejected. The House is accordingly guided.”