Ruto, Raila allies clash in Parliament as Finance Bill debate begins

Allies of President William Ruto and Azimio leader Raila Odinga on Wednesday clashed in a stormy session as MPs started a debate on the Finance Bill, 2023.

Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi wondered how the Kenya Kwanza government can abandon the very people they promised heaven during the campaigns.

"How can you go round the country and promise hapless and poor people heaven then a few months down the road you come up with a bill that seeks to choke them,'' he said.

"How can a government forget the people it is supposed to protect and literally kill them.''

Wandayi wondered why billions had been allocated to the Office of the President, Deputy President and Prime Cabinet Secretary.

"Now they are targeting the low, middle and high-income earners,'" he said.

Deputy Minority Leader Robert Mbui set the tone for Azimio's spirited objection to the Bill terming the proposed legislation a mockery to the plight of Kenyans.

"This is the most contentious finance bill since I was elected in this house in 2013, I look at it as a drum of poison,'' the MP said.

"They have said they have proposed a few things in the Bill that are okay. It is like saying that they have put a teaspoon of sugar in a drum of poison. I think this Bill is something that we must reject in its totality.'"

The Kathiani MP warned that Kenyans are struggling with the economic situation in the country so dire.

"Kenyans are suffering, life is difficult, a 1000 shilling a few months a go would fill a paper bag, now it cannot, who will speak for the hustler?"' Mbui posed.

The MP said the government cheated its way to victory by lying to Kenyans that they had the capacity to change their fortunes.

"Kenyans can now see that the Kenya Kwanza regime did not have good intentions from the word go," he said.

Migori Woman Representative Fatuma Mohamed claimed that the Finance Committee did not conduct public participation across the country.

She said her electorate have opposed the proposed 1.5 per cent levy for affordable housing.

"Kenyans are saying they are not interested and no not want it, they are not aware of the 1.5 percent, you never visited Migori except sitting in your small offices taking coffee and making decisions for Kenya," she said.

"My people from Migori are sending me messages telling me that we are comfortable with their grass-thatched houses and all that we want is food on the table."

However, Ruto's allies claimed that the opposition MPs were playing populist politics in debating the Bill while at the same time misleading the country on its content.

Buura MP Rindikiri Mugambi told off opposition MPs saying some of those opposing the bill have nearly half of their residents living in informal settlements.

"This committee is made up of professionals who have done a good job and we do not believe they sat anywhere taking coffee," Mugambi said.

"They sat and listened and this member who has just spoken has shown a lot of ignorance.'"

On the issue of the 1.5 per cent housing levy, Mugambi said he fully supports the clause to address affordable housing for Kenyans.

"These people condemning the housing fund, should go to the constitution, how will we address descent of housing if we will not raise money?" he posed.

The MP named MPs from urban centres who represent people dwelling in slums saying they were playing populist politics.

"It is very unfortunate that you are opposing a bill that wants to uplift the hustlers, there is no way we will improve the living conditions of Kenyans if we will not raise money," he said.

The MPs earlier approved a procedural motion to continue with the debate till late night on Wednesday.