Opposition battalions in Parliament are now plotting a major comeback on the Finance Bill days after they were outclassed and beaten in a crucial vote that saw the Bill sail past second reading.
In a counter strategy to save face, Azimio la Umoja is silently crafting a strategy that will see all members voting against each clause of the legislative proposal.
The Star has established that the Minority is also going flat out reaching to the pro-government MPs to vote against some of the clauses of the Bill.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna who is also the ODM Secretary General on Sunday said the Azimio MPs have been directed to throng the House on Tuesday and shoot down the Bill.
Sifuna warned that any Member who will not heed the directive will be considered a rebel with the Party and coalition.
“The Finance Bill, 2023 has to be defeated at all costs and that is why we are lobbying all our Members of Parliament to turn up on Tuesday and shoot down this draconian legislation that is out to make life for Kenyans even more difficult. We are calling on our colleagues in Kenya Kwanza Alliance to stand on the right side of history by rejecting this Bill,” said Sifuna.
On Wednesday, 176 MPs voted for the Bill against 81 lawmakers who voted against it.
Some 85 MPs did not cast their vote as they were either not in the house or travelled abroad.
MPs are expected to start a Committee of the Whole House on Tuesday followed by another vote for the third reading.
Several interviews gleaned together by the Star paints a picture of an opposition out to make a counter and frustrate the passage of the Bill that they believe will result in a spike in the cost of living.
Some Azimio MPs told the Star that it will not be a walk in the park and they will erect roadblocks on the path of the controversial Bill.
Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga told the Star that all is not lost, disclosing plans to push for various changes during the Committee of the whole House.
Ruth urged Kenyans to put their MPs to task and ensure they attend the House proceedings on Tuesday and push for the changes.
“I believe that as a coalition we would have done better but at the same time it was more of an ambush as many of people believed the voting was to happen next week. I am very confident this is just a second reading, people should not think that this is the end,” Ruth said.
Embakasi MP Babu Owino also concurred, saying it is too early to give up on radically altering the Bill. He said Azimio will bring a number of amendments to remove all the offensive clauses.
“The most significant and crucial stage of a Bill like the Finance Bill is the Third Reading where voting will take place for each clause. This will be next week. Still, there is hope,” Owino said.
A Committee of the Whole House is the entire membership of the House sitting as a committee.
The meeting of the Committee of the Whole House is held in the Chamber and is presided over by the Deputy Speaker or any member from the Speaker’s panel.
The Committee of the Whole House only considers matters referred to it by the House, which include Bills at the committee stage or budget estimates (Committee of Supply).
