By Patricia Mollyne Mataga
More Kenya Kwanza Members of Parliament continue to apologize to the electorate for voting in favour of the contentious 2024 Finance Bill.
After the president declined to sign the bill following pressure from widespread protests organized by the young people, several legislators who voted for the bill came out to issue an apology to the people.
The latest of Nakuru Town East MP David Gikaria.
Unlike other legislators who have verbally issued their apologies, Gikaria opted to do it in style.
Photos doing rounds on social media show the UDA legislator donning a t-shirt with the words “Sorry Please forgive me”
He posted a photo with his wife also wearing the same shirt.
President Ruto on Wednesday announced that he will not sign the bill. This was one of the major demands of the Gen Z protesters that had on Tuesday turned chaotic.
The President issued a memorandum to Parliament asking them to delete the bill in totality.
Withdrawal of the bill is however likely to have a negative impact on funding for devolved units and other government institutions.
On Friday, June 28, 2024, President Ruto declined to assent to the County Revenue and Appropriation Bill that had allocated Ksh400 million to devolved units.
The President while rejecting the bill asked MPs to review it downwards. He noted that the national assembly, commissions and his office will also face the impact of a reduced budget.
“I have reffered the County Allocation and Revenue Bill, which was based on expected revenue from rejected Finance Bill, back to parliament for reduction accordingly,” Ruto said in a statement.
“With respect to the National Government, the reduction will be borne by the executive, the legislature, the judiciary and other constitutional commissions,” he added.
It is estimated that the government projected to raise over Ksh300 billion under the rejected finance bill. But with its withdrawal, the National Treasury will now be expected to go back to the drawing board.