Lang’ata MP Phelix ‘Jalang’o’ Odiwour and Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaria have said they will reject the Finance Bill, 2024.
The two are among the opposition lawmakers who had aligned to President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration.
Speaking during the debate on the Bill, Odiwour said he rejects the Bill, an announcement that sparked jubilation from Opposition MPs, forcing Speaker Moses Wetang’ula to call the House to order.
“Immediately it touched everything that touched the common person, that is the M-PESA, sanitary pads and cars, I looked back and saw the whole generation from Lang’ata having their voices sold out even after amendments. I had to make the choice that I made today,” he stated.
“I am a friend to the President, I spoke to him and he knows very well that this is my stand,” he stated.
The Nairobi Woman Rep also told the House she rejects the Bill.
Ironically, Passaris took to social media about a month ago to say that she will still vote for the Finance Bill, 2024 despite having some misgivings about some clauses in it.
While addressing her TikTok followers, Passaris started off by telling off her detractors, saying that she was tired of the constant threats from voters who have been warning her of losing her seat come 2027.
“Just because I'm in Baba's party, doesn't mean I have to hate Ruto. I love the President, I love the way he does things," she said.
Passaris also said that she was aware that a section of Kenyans had branded her a 'traitor' for supporting the Finance Bill, 2023.
Debate on the Finance Bill 2024 is underway in Parliament ahead of the voting.
This is even as the anti-Finance Bill protests continued in various parts of the country.
Organisers of the 'Occupy Parliament' protests, which began in Nairobi, are demanding that the bill be rejected in its entirety.
The protests paralysed businesses in major town centres as police engaged different groups in running battles.