National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has criticized Members of Parliament politicizing the national budget process.
Speaking in the wake of public outcries on the Finance Bill 2024 Wetangula has urged the lawmakers to work within the parliamentary system to address issues rather than airing grievances publicly.
Wetangula emphasized the need for constructive solutions and collaboration instead of complaints.
“You are the people who come up with the budget proposals through your committees, please save the public agony and refrain from standing before the public and lamenting much about the Finance Bill 2024 yet you are the ones to come up with the budget proposals,” Wetang’ula said.
“The MPs should sit down and do things that can benefit the people of Kenya, the electorate depends and trusts in you because they voted for you.”
The Speaker opined that the legislators had the power to ensure that Kenyans’ were well represented by how they vote on the floor of the house.
He further challenged MPs to avoid debating the bill in such forums, without harbouring any intentions of taking any action on the same.
Wetangula’s sentiments came at a time when the provisions of the Finance Bill, 2024 had attracted criticism from Kenyans across the board over the proposed increase in multiple sets of taxes.
Some of the contested proposals in the Finance Bill included payment of an annual motor vehicle tax requiring Kenyans to part with Ksh 5,000 – Ksh100,000 depending on the value of the car.