Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah claims a Member of Parliament affiliated with President William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza Alliance offered him money for the documentation he completed while preparing to file a legal challenge to the Finance Bill 2023.
Omtatah filed a case on Friday challenging some portions of the disputed measure, claiming that they violate the right to property, access to justice, and the Constitution in general. Understand the finance bill 2023.
As the Kenya Kwanza government aims to raise more money from Kenyans, the Finance Bill 2023 proposes a 16% Value Added Tax (VAT) on fuel and a housing fund, among other fees.
The measure has been criticised by legislators affiliated with the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition. However, Omtatah claims that some kenya kwanza MPs support it.
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"It's not just Azimio. Many Kenya Kwanza MPs, whom I will not identify, have approached me to express their opposition to the measure. "One is a frontline legislator in Kenya Kwanza who has even given me Ksh.10,000 as support for all the photocopying I did because I am saving them," the senator stated in an interview with NTV on Monday night.
According to Omtatah, support for the Finance Bill 2023 is motivated by respect for the Constitution rather than party allegiance.
"I am not a member of Azimio, but I support Azimio's position." I will back Kenya Kwanza if they take a stand I agree with. It's all about constitutionalism, and I'm glad to have Azimio's support on this," he added.
"His tough words show you that he is aware his house is not together," Omtatah told NTV, "and that is why he has resorted to threats."
Omtatah accuses the Parliament majority of being compromised by the Executive in his suit, and so requests that the court issue orders pausing debate and prohibiting the Speaker of the National Assembly from delivering the Finance Bill 2023 to President Ruto.
According to him, the petition involves significant legal difficulties, and the case should be transferred to the Chief Justice, who should appoint a bench of justices to hear and decide the matter.
The busia senator adds that imposing a 3% housing levy on kenyans violates national values.
