- In June, the President bowed to the pressure of Gen Zs who wanted him to reject the Finance Bill 2024.
- The Head of State proposed a raft of amendments to the Bill for the MPs to consider.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula has said that the House will consider President William Ruto's Finance Bill 2024 rejection when Parliament resumes.
However, the Speaker said the Bill is technically dead (both contested and uncontested provisions), and any Member wishing to revive any of the Clauses of the Bill will require the support of at least 233 Members at the appropriate stage (Article 115(4)(a) of the Constitution).
The absence of any amendment will signify agreement with H.E. the President, which is essentially a total rejection of the Bill.
President William Ruto declined to ascent to the Finance Bill 2024 and returned it to Parliament for deletion of all the clauses.
However, the Speaker has said that legislators will vote on the Finance Bill 2024 memorandum returned to Parliament by the President.
While addressing the press on Monday at his offices, Wetang'ula said that Parliament will resume sittings in July after a three-week recess.
He said the Standing Orders of the House allow members who want to reinstate the Bill to vote on the memorandum.
"The President declined to assent to the Finance Bill, 2024 and sent back with a memorandum indicating that he is rejecting all the clauses of the Bill," he said.
"So that Memorandum and rejection will also be part of the business of the House, remember that under our Standing Orders when the President sends a memorandum of that nature any member who wants to overturn that memorandum or any provision therein must garner two-thirds of the members of the house, that is about 233 of the members of the House."
The Speaker added that he would place the memorandum before Parliament.
He further clarified reports that the Bill was going to be operational 14 days after the President declined to sign it.
Wetangula said no provision in the constitution allows the Bill to be operational under that circumstance.
"The Bill is in limbo, it is purgatory so to speak awaiting the next vote on it in the House," he said.
"Following the rejection, the government in furtherance of the austerity measures now being undertaken and the stress in budget processes has brought Supplementary Budget 1."
In June, the President bowed to the pressure of Gen Zs who wanted him to reject the Finance Bill 2024.
The Head of State proposed a raft of amendments to the Bill for the MPs to consider.
Parliament may amend the Bill in light of the president's reservations or pass it a second time without amending it.
The committee of the whole house format allows for detailed examination of each clause, ensuring thorough consideration before the bill progresses to subsequent stages of legislative review.
The committee of the whole house format allows for detailed examination of each clause, ensuring thorough consideration before the bill progresses to subsequent stages of legislative review.