Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has warned proponents of the Finance Bill to prepare for a legal battle of monumental proportions soon after Madaraka Day.
In a somewhat indirect message to President William Ruto, the vocal rights activist said he would have fought the Bill on the floor of the House but unfortunately, it will only be debated in the National Assembly.
"Because it's not coming to this House, I'm going to engage with the Bill in court, and watch this space, have your Madaraka, after Madaraka, it's a new ball game," Omtatah said.
The senator's remarks were reminiscent of those he made on Sunday when he told the President to his face that he was being misled over the Bill.
When he stood to speak during an interfaith prayer service graced by the President at Busia Stadium, Omtatah told Ruto that the Bill is not good for Kenya as it violates some aspects of the Constitution.
"Let people not fool you here, let people not deceive you. There are issues in that Bill where even the Supreme Court has pronounced itself that ought to be honoured," he said.
Omtatah told the President whom he described as his friend that "I pray that we relook at this Bill. If we can avoid fighting in court it would be good as it is bad for friends to fight."
While commenting on the issue in Senate on Wednesday, the fiery rights activist said the legal battle will be bare-knuckled with no place for kid gloves.
He said the Bill contains proposals that seek to destroy the industrial base of the country "and return us to the caves the way the war in Iraq has returned Iraq to the caves."
"This is a war on the republic of Kenya, it's a fight for the soul of this country and we are not going to shy from it," he said.
"We don't have another country we only have this country and so those who are inviting me for a fight, let us meet outside this House where you enjoy no privileges. It's a bare-knuckled fight, there will be no kid gloves and I don't blink," he said.
During Sunday's event in Busia, Ruto beseeched the senator to shelve his plans to go to court over the Finance Bill.
He said the Bill was good as it was seeking to create jobs for youth and give Kenyans better homes.
"Mr Omatata, so now you want to take me to court and what I'm doing is finding job opportunities for these people," the President said.
"Kwani sasa hutaki hawa watu wapateko kasi, please bwana Okiya (So now you don't want these people to get jobs)," Ruto said in jest.
"Talk to our senator please," Ruto told Busia residents present during the event.
