All eyes will be on Members of Parliament Tuesday as they consider and take a vote or recommend more amendments to the controversial Finance Bill 2024 that has sparked protests in the country.
Legislators today are expected to make amendments to the text of the Bill where proposed and independent clauses are voted on and any new additions made in the Committee of the Whole House.
This is a crucial stage as MPs can vote down clauses of the Bill, or vote to keep them or amend them before a report is sent to the House seeking approval.
MPs on Thursday last week voted in favour of the Finance Bill 2024 amid widespread protests against the proposed tax measures.
The contentious bill sailed through the second reading after 204 MPs endorsed it against 115 who voted no. There were no abstentions.
If it is approved, it moves to the final stage which is the Third reading. Here, no amendments are made and a final vote is taken.
If the MPs approve the Bill, the Speaker of the National Assembly transmits it to the President for assent. The President has 14 days, to assent to it or refer it back to the House with some reservations.
Government’s Warning
And as protesters, mainly young have already gathered in Nairobi’s Central Business District to oppose the Finance Bill 2024, the Government through the Interior Ministry warned Kenyans planning to hold protests not to engage in violence.
The government has allowed the countrywide demos with the hashtag #TotalShutdown led largely by Gen-Z but with conditions.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki told all those planning to picket that they must remain peaceful and unarmed throughout their assembly, demonstration, picket or presentation of petitions noting that they should not engage in violence or riots.
While warning demonstrators over breaching public peace he also noted that they should not intimidate or harass non protesters.
He said it is the constitutional right of every person, peaceably and unarmed, to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket and to present petitions to authorities.
