Thursday, June 15, 2023 –Embakasi East Member of Parliament MP Babu Owino has claimed that most Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya-allied MPs were not present in Parliament to vote against Finance Bill on Wednesday June 14.
In a video received on this desk on Thursday June 15 morning, MP Owino states that, after they had learnt that Speaker Moses Wetang’ula had moved the second voting exercise to next week, they left the Chambers for their own businesses.
For him, he had to meet his lawyer over DJ Evolve matter which is still active in court.
“After the Speaker announced that the debate will not take place until next week, I talked to my colleague Opiyo Wandayi and he allowed me out.
“It was when I was away that Wetang’ula changed again and the voting took place. By that time most of in Azimio had left,” he noted.
The second term MP has, however, asked Azimio supporters to remain optimistic since the third reading will be crucial and that they (MPs) will be present to mount a counter attack.
The MP added that he will not be supporting the Bill even if his Party leader Raila Amollo Odinga asks him to do so.
The voting that followed a heated debate saw 176 MPs vote to endorse the Finance Bill 2023 to be read a third time while 81 MPs out of 257 opposed.
Azimio camp, nonetheless, expressed optimism that all is not lost after the vote was called in Kenya Kwanza’s favour.
Commenting on the matter, political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi has called out the opposition camp for failing to mount a considerable pushback on the proposed tax measures terming their defeat as quite embarrassing.
