Speaker Wetangula lectures MPs over finance bill debate

Lugari, Sunday June 11, 2023,

KNA, by Melechezedeck Ejakait

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has taken a swipe at legislators debating and misleading the public on the Finance Bill, 2023 in political gatherings urging them to wait for it in the assembly.

Wetangula told the lawmakers that although it is right for them to debate the bill; they should do so with sobriety without misleading members of the public on its contents.

He made the remarks at Lwandeti DEB secondary school in Lugari constituency where he led a host of Western region elected leaders including Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa in fundraising over Sh.14 million for completion of a multipurpose hall at the school.

This was in reaction to a section of Western leaders who have been openly opposing the bill that is yet to be table in the national assembly.

He said that every year in the Kenyan budget cycle two bills; Finance Bill (for ways and means) and the Appropriation bill (for expenditure) must be brought to the assembly.

He said, “These Parliamentarians know that when a bill comes to parliament each clause including the title is voted for individually”.

“You legislators are in committees. There is no reason for you coming here to excite members of the public yet you are the ones supposed to be removing the things you are telling them are bad.

“It is your role as an MP to go through the bill and where you are not satisfied you talk to your colleague MPs to support you to remove it.”

He stated reminding members of the public that the content of the bill lies with their national assembly representatives.

Wetangula blasted the MPs telling them that it is baseless for them to come to political gatherings and tell the common mwanachi that they will oppose the finance bill yet when they go to the national assembly they remain mute.

“My brothers and sisters that is what we must learn. I am your referee. My work is just to sit there and preside over the voting process.

“Once it is done the votes are counted and the majority gets it while the minority is listened to.”He said noting that the president is also concerned about the high cost of living.

Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha defended the bill saying it will play a critical role in reducing the high cost of health in the country.

She said besides having a clause that reduces the monthly NHIF subscription from Sh500 to Sh300 there is also a clause that reduces the buying price of products required for the manufacture of drugs and vaccines.

Members of Parliament Nabii Nabwera (Lugari), Jack Wamboka (Bumula) and Senator Godfrey Osotsi (Vihiga) expressed opposition to the bill saying it required serious amendments.

Nabwera who was the host MP told Speaker Wetangula that his Lugari constituents have asked him to vote against the bill if it is brought into the national assembly without proper amendments.

Osotsi on his part said the public is opposed to the finance bill and it must be withdrawn.

He said it is not only the 3 percent house levy issue that is problematic but it has a lot of other bad clauses.

Wamboka urged Wetangula to seek a sit down with President William Ruto and iron out the controversial clauses that will negatively impact on the common man.

He said, “Honorable speaker I know the President listens to you. In the finance bill just in the same spirit he removed a clause affecting the content creators, there is a clause touching on the small individuals like mama mboga and other small traders.

“We beseech when you go there tell him that part is bad. There is another one of 3 percent touching on teachers - that one is also bad.

We also have another one that targets to include merrygo rounds in the tax bracket ‘that one is also bad. Tell the President Kenyans are suffering.”

Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula and Kiminini MP Maurice Bisau urged Wetangula to speak to the President in regard to the bill in order to sort out the controversial clauses.

“We must be a country that talks to each other and not talking at each other. My hope is that if there is a clause that is problematic it should be looked at and away forward found.” Bisau said.

The elected leaders vowed to stick together under the Western MPs caucus irrespective of their political party affiliation for the sake of development and prosperity of the region.

Courtesy ; K. N. A