Nairobi — Defense Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has lauded Members of Parliament for choosing courage and voting to have the Finance Bill, 2024 sail through the second reading stage despite the vehement opposition by the public.
The Former National Assembly Majority Leader and Garissa Township MP congratulated the 204 MPs who voted in support of the bill following a rigorous debate that symbolize a sharp division on the legislative document.
"As former legislator I wish to congratulate the Members of the National Assembly from the entire political divide for guiding the country accordingly and we now look forward to the next stage being the Committee of the Whole House where amendments to the Bill will be considered," he said.
CS Duale stated that despite the Finance Bill 2024 being unpopular due to the legislative proposals which points to taxation in order to finance the current Sh3.9 trillion budget.
"Whereas there may be divided opinion on the Bill which is normal and expected in every mature democracy, what is great is that the constitutionally mandated body being the National Assembly has discharged its mandate and spoken loud and clear," he stated.
The Defence Cabinet Secretary pointed out that the 'extensive public participation' conducted by the Finance and National Planning Committee chaired by Molo MP Kimani Kuria has been fruitful following dropout of key proposals.
"I also note that some of the contentious clauses for which our people had raised concerns with during public participation have already been dropped and are scheduled to be deleted at the Committee Stage," Duale stated.
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"With this, the process of finalization of the Bill has now entered home stretch and we look forward to conclusion of the legislative process. God bless Kenya!" he added.
President William Ruto secured a significant victory Thursday as the Finance Bill 2024 passed the second reading stage despite street protests and opposition from Azimio La Umoja lawmakers.
The Bill sailed through with 204 votes in favour and 115 against in what has angered Kenyans across the country, mainly the youth who have been on the streets since Tuesday.
The bill now moves to the committee of the whole house, where it will be subjected to various amendments proposed by legislators.
The Committee of the whole will then consider all the proposed amendments and take a vote on each of them. If an amendment is passed, it becomes part of the Bill.
Protests have been held across the country since Tuesday, with the Gen Z leading the charge. On Thursday, protesters clashed with police in Nairobi and other major towns, engaging in running battles and facing tear gas as they tried to reach Parliament.
The bill, which has been a subject of intense debate and public outcry, aims to introduce new tax measures to raise additional revenue for the government's budget.
However, many Kenyans have expressed concerns over the proposed taxes, arguing that they will further burden the already struggling populace.
