Raila’s last-minute strategy to counter Ruto from passing the finance bill 2023
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Azimio led by Raila Odinga reveals a last-minute game plan to stop Ruto from passing the controversial finance bill 2023
Azimio led by Raila Odinga reveals a last-minute game plan to stop Ruto from passing the controversial finance bill 2023.
Azimio coalition still hopes to thwart President William Ruto’s efforts to pass the Finance Bill 2023.
As the Bill approaches the third and final reading in Parliament on Tuesday, June 20, the opposition leader unveiled plans to contest Ruto’s proposal to double the value-added tax on petroleum products from eight to sixteen percent.
On Monday, June 19, Rarieda Member of Parliament (MP) Otiende Amollo revealed that Azimio lawmakers plan to disrupt the third reading of the Finance Bill in Parliament, by introducing countless reforms to ensure the session goes late into the night and they affect the voting process.
“Any individual member has the discretion to introduce an amendment at the committee of the whole House stage. Am aware of members from the minority side who proposed many amendments,” Amollo said while speaking to a local media station.
The Rarieda MP revealed that Azimio has other plans besides the game of numbers.
“With those numbers, even if all the members who were absent were to vote against the Bill, the ruling alliance would still have its way on this matter, but I can tell you we have other options,” Amollo revealed.
The Rarieda MP also said that he would join Senator Okiya Omtata in the fight against the passing of the Finance Bill in court.
Otiende Amollo also announced that the Azimio coalition would challenge the content of the Bill in court and the recent proceedings of the second parliamentary reading.
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An Azimio official also revealed to a local media house that the coalition plans to create a division in every clause of the Bill, at the Committee of the whole House, where members are required to vote on each clause.
The Azimio official, who preferred to remain anonymous, stated that they expect a full House during the third reading. He added that they were ready and had been instructed to ‘create a division on every clause.’
In addition, addressing the media on Monday, June 19, National Assembly Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi argued that doubling the VAT would cripple the economy, especially the transport sector, a contrary opinion to Kenya Kwanza loyalists who argued that it would spur the economy.
“We intend through the proposals brought forth to remove the increase in VAT and revert to the eight percent VAT,” Wandayi, who also serves as Ugunja MP, stated.
However, President Ruto defended the increase, noting that the money collected will fund infrastructural projects in the coming years.
“The 8 percent will give us Ksh50 billion to deal with roads across the country,” Ruto stated during a joint media interview at State House on Sunday, May 14.
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