Editor's Review

The Narok senator blasted the National Assembly speaker for directing the lawmakers on how to vote on the controversial bill.

Narok senator Ledama Olekina has taken offence at National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula who has specified how members of parliament will vote for the Finance Bill.

According to Wetang'ula, the lawmakers will vote for or against the controversial bill on a clause-by-clause basis.  

He asked the MPs opposing the bill to push for amendments on clauses they feel are not good for Kenyans instead of rejecting it entirely. 

“The Constitution gives MPs powers to push for amendments on clauses that they single out as unfriendly to citizens and that is what I urge them to do instead of decampaigning the document in public meetings in villages.

“I reminded the legislators that they will have an opportunity to vote for the Bill ‘clause by clause’. That will give them a chance to make a decision on the document when it will be tabled in the House,” said the speaker.

However, reacting to Wetang'ula's pronouncement, the Narok senator said the speaker is not mandated to direct lawmakers on how they chose to conduct themselves on the matter.

Narok senator Ledama Olekina.

He suggested the speaker was using his position to drum support for the bill that a host of quarters and groups have vowed to oppose.

"So Wetang'ula is now the spokesperson of Kenya Kwanza in Parliament and in Public Events ? Stop being petty my friend , you have no business talking about the finance bill which you have no vote! Wewe kula na Unyamaza!" said Ledama.

The National Assembly is slated to deliberate on the bill that is now before the house after being subjected to public participation during which compatriots and other stakeholders submitted their views.