Opposition MPs led by Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi walked out and booed Treasury Cabinet Secretary Professor Njuguna Ndung’u as he began reading the Sh3.6 trillion budget proposed by the government.
The Azimio MPs accused Speaker Moses Wetangula of misleading the house on when the Finance Bill 2023 would be subjected to a vote on the second reading stage.
The opposition lawmakers said that the Speaker had guided that the bill would be voted on next week on Tuesday, questioning the hurried manner at which the vote was conducted. “We have walked out on CS Njuguna Ndungu who has come to make some speech on two accounts,” said Wandayi. “We are protesting against the arbitrary manner in which the debate and the vote on the Finance Bill were undertaken.
We feel it was rushed to achieve an objective and we are protesting against the manner of the budget estimates were taken.” Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo raised concerns about why MPs had voted for the Finance Bill at the second reading stage yet budget estimates had not been read, arguing that it was unprocedural. “The Speaker told us that voting will be done next week on Tuesday,” he said. “For that reason, it’s inconceivable that a member could stand up on standing order 95 and the Speaker accedes to stop debate and go to voting.” The walkout did not disrupt Ndung’u’s presentation of the budget after boos and jeers ended following their departure from parliament.
This incident comes an hour after Opposition Coalition leader Raila Odinga revealed plans to unveil a parallel budget for next year commencing July 1st, conducting public participation across all 47 counties before concluding mock budget-making processes.
