Azimio la Umoja Members of Parliament on Thursday, June 15 walked out of the National Assembly Chambers in protest after Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndungu began reading the 2023/2024 budget.
The Opposition MPs booed the Treasury CS moments after he mentioned that the budget was first under the Kenya Kwanza administration.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula however called the house to order after the short disruption and asked CS Ndung’u to proceed with presenting the budget.
Here is the video courtesy of NTV;
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The MPs Proceeded to hold a press conference outside the National Assembly building saying they would not participate in the reading of the budget until it changed to favour Kenyans.
"Azimio does not believe in this budget. We don’t think this is a budget meant for Kenyans, it is meant for the Kenya Kwanza government. Until we get a budget that is founded on the primaries of Kenyan people, we will not participate," said Suna East MP Junet Mohamed.
This comes after the National Assembly passed the Finance Bill 2023 second reading on Wednesday following a voting exercise.
Out of the 257 MPs who were presented 176 voted in favor of the bill while 81 voted against it.
The bill has been opposed by a number of opposition politicians including Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga who termed it punitive.
“Hiyo Finance Bill ni kuweka msumari ya mwisho katika jeneza ya maiti...Finance Bill ikikuja hapa Wakenya watakuwa mahabusu wa kulipa ushuru pekee yake, hakuna mtu ambaye amekataza serikali kutoza ushuru, tayari iko pale msingi wa kutoa ushuru, serikali ya Uhuru ilikuwa inatoza watu ushuru na ilikuwa inafanya kazi,” said Raila on Wednesday.
The opposition chief threatened to lead nationwide protests after the 2023/2024 budget has been read.
