The Kenya Kwanza administration, according to Belgut MP Nelson Koech, is not eager to pursue MP Gathoni wa Muchomba or any other allied MPs who oppose the Finance Bill 2023.
The MP, who participated in a panel discussion on Citizen TV’s Day Break, stated that the UDA party will respect leaders who hold opposing views because it is their democratic right.
“Most of us are in sync with the presidents agenda and what he wants and we have said we will support him,” the legislator told Citizen TV’s Day Break.
“But there are also some of our colleagues if they hold a contrary opinion, we do not punish them like our colleagues from Azimio,”
According to the MP who claims the ruling party is not interested in pursuing any vendetta, the Azimio coalition has acted unfairly by summoning MPs who supported the contentious Bill.
“Members of parliament are representatives of the people, they have been sent to parliament to exercise their democratic right to vote… they listen to their people,” said the MP.
“If they support section of this Finance Bill, its totally unfair and dictatorial to punish them,”
“We have not sent anyone any letter to show cause why disciplinary action should not be taken against them,”
“In fact most of our colleagues from the other side who supported the Bill had to hide from voting which is not democratic at all,”
Meanwhile, MP Robert Mbui, who was on the panel, questioned why President Ruto had visited the Githunguri area, where MP Wa Muchomba is from, just days after the Bill passed its second reading.
According to Mbui, who was reading malice from the Head of State’s visit, the move was intended to intimidate the MP who has been vocal in her opposition to the Bill.
“I am surprised that President Ruto has curiously developed an interest in going to Githunguri after MP Gathoni Wamuchomba voted against the Finance Bill 2023 and attempted to intimidate her publicly; I am happy she stood her ground,” Mbui said.
Elsewhere, Mathare MP Antony Oluoch, who was also on the panel, saw dishonesty in claims that the UDA would not crack the whip on MPs who crossed the line.
“The President and his Deputy stood in public and issued a stern warning to MPs who would vote against the Finance Bill 2023,” Oluoch said. “They said if you voted against it, you will not get roads, you will not get this… these clips should have been played here,”
The MP also claims that the Head of State left Meru on Sunday to go to Githunguri, where he “responded to MP wa Muchomba.”
“How undemocratic can this government get? Ruto even went to Githunguri to respond to MP Gathoni Wamuchomba,” he added.
