Babu Owino Explains Skipping Voting On Finance Bill
The lawmaker clarified in a video statement that he had arranged to meet his lawyer to prepare for his defence hearing at Milimani Law Courts slated for Thursday, June 15.
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Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Babu Owino on Wednesday, June 14 struggled to explain his absence from the National Assembly where the voting process on the Finance Bill 2023 took place.
Babu was among 11 MPs from the Azimio la Umoja coalition who were not in the House to cast their vote on the Bill when it came up for the Second Reading, which it sailed through following a 176-81 win by pro-government MPs.
The lawmaker clarified in a video statement that he had arranged to meet his lawyer to prepare for his defence hearing at Milimani Law Courts slated for Thursday, June 15.
Moreover, he underlined that he communicated to National Assembly Minority Leader, Opiyo Wandayi, about his circumstances before leaving the parliament buildings, stating that the engagement with his lawyers took the whole day and also burned the midnight oil.
The National Assembly in session on June 14, 2023. /PARLIAMENT OF KENYA
The MP however blamed National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula for the mishap, indicating that the voting was to take place after the third reading, as originally agreed by the Parliamentary leadership.
“I realised that the speaker made some changes and ruled that voting was to take place on Wednesday. By that time, so many members were anticipating that voting will occur next week. That explains why so many members, especially from the Azimio Coalition missed the sitting,” he stated.
He also criticised the passing of the Finance Bill during the Second Reading, arguing that it carried a looming disaster for Kenyans.
“I want to state that the Finance Bill 2023 is retrogressive. Even if (ODM party leader) Raila Odinga instructed me to support it, I would not do it because of my allegiance to my people,” he clarified.
He however expressed hope that despite losing to the government side on Wednesday, the final round of voting for the third reading would be the most crucial debate.
“Fellow Kenyans, the main, most important, more significant and crucial stage of a bill like the Finance Bill 2023 is the 3rd reading stage where voting will take place for each clause. This will be next week. There is still hope,” he said.
Mumias East MP Peter Salasya, who is currently in Morocco on official business, on his part wondered why communication was not issued for MPs to suspend other engagements ahead of the Finance Bill voting process.
Other Azimio MPs who were absent from the voting include:
- Langata MP Jalang’o
- Mumias East MP Peter Salasya
- Butere MP Tindi Mwale
- Butula MP Joseph Oyula
- Dadaab MP Farah Maalim
- Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo,
- Galole MP Hirbae Said
- Lurambi MP Titus Khamala
- Matungu MP Peter Nabulindo
- Matungulu MP Stephen Mule Mutinda
- Mavoko MP King'ola Patrick Makau
The Bill is now set for the Committee of the Whole House stage (the Third Reading) set for Tuesday, June 20, where the whole House will seat in the form of a Committee to consider the Bill clause by clause. At the Committee of the whole House stage, any proposed amendments are to be Bill and a vote is taken on each.
National Treasury Cabinet Secretary (CS) Njuguna Ndung’u will present the budget speech on Thursday, June 15.
Mzalendo Watch after the vote results were announced made public its list of MPs who voted for and against the bill, with 162 MPs voting in favour of the Bill and 74 against it.
24 were absent during the voting with four MPs including nominated MP, Sabina Chege suspended, with the watchdog stating that "The other members that do not appear on the list were either locked out of the chambers during division on the Bill or were not in attendance at all. This list will be shared once accessed and verified."
Top of the concessions made in the amended Bill is the Housing Levy contribution by employers and employees which has been reduced from 3 to 1.5 per cent.
The National Assembly Committee on Finance and Planning also slashed the withholding tax for Digital creators from 15 per cent to 5 per cent.
President William Ruto clapping during the 4th Engineering Partnerships Convention, Naivasha, Nakuru County on June 14, 2023. /WILLIAM RUTO
20 per cent VAT on Gaming and Betting has been reduced to 12.5 per cent while the mandatory 20 per cent of the contested amount deposited to Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) for lodging Tax Appeal has been repealed.
Tax Rental Income has also been reduced from 10 per cent to 7.5 per cent. However, the Finance Committee retained the 16 per cent proposal on petroleum products.
