Source: UGC
Moses Wetangula, the Speaker of Kenya's National Assembly, has recently addressed widespread confusion surrounding the Finance Bill 2024.
There have been claims circulating that the bill would automatically become law after 14 days, despite its rejection by President William Ruto.
Wetangula has strongly refuted these claims, providing important insights into the bill’s current status and the parliamentary process that will follow.
The Finance Bill 2024, a significant piece of legislation aimed at raising over KSh 350 billion in government revenue, was recently rejected by President Ruto.
This bill was intended to introduce various financial measures and reforms. However, the President returned the bill to Parliament with a detailed memorandum outlining his objections to its provisions. This memorandum has been a key point of contention and confusion in the media.
Wetangula’s clarification comes in response to reports suggesting that the Finance Bill 2024 would automatically become law after 14 days, even though it was rejected by the President.
According to Wetangula, these claims are not accurate. The Speaker emphasized that there is no provision in the Kenyan Constitution or in parliamentary law that allows the bill to become law simply due to the passage of time after the President’s rejection.
When a President returns a bill with a memorandum, it does not mean the bill is immediately enacted or automatically becomes law. Instead, the bill’s fate is determined through a parliamentary process.
Wetangula explained that Parliament must now address the President’s memorandum when it resumes its sessions after a three-week recess.
The process involves a detailed examination of the President’s objections and discussions on whether to amend the bill or accept the President’s rejection.
To overturn the President’s rejection and enact the bill into law despite the objections, Parliament must secure a two-thirds majority vote.
This means that at least two-thirds of the Members of Parliament must vote in favor of the bill to override the President’s memorandum.
Wetangula underscored that this requirement is in place to ensure that significant legislative changes have broad support within the parliamentary system.
The Speaker’s statement clarified that the bill’s status is currently in a state of limbo, described by Wetangula as "purgatory."
This indicates that the bill is neither in effect nor fully rejected but is awaiting further parliamentary action. The bill will be tabled for discussion in the National Assembly once Parliament returns from its recess, and members will debate whether to address the President’s concerns or to take further legislative steps.
The rejection of the Finance Bill 2024 has had notable repercussions beyond parliamentary procedures.
Following the bill’s rejection, President Ruto directed the National Treasury to implement budget cuts and adopt austerity measures to manage the government’s financial situation.
These measures are intended to mitigate the impact of the revenue shortfall caused by the bill’s failure to pass. The budget cuts will affect various sectors, including State House and the offices of the President and Deputy President, as part of broader efforts to control government spending.
In addition to the immediate financial adjustments, the National Assembly has invited the public to provide feedback on the proposed budget cuts and other related measures.
The debate over the Finance Bill 2024 and its subsequent developments are of significant interest to many Kenyans.
The bill’s proposed measures were designed to address crucial revenue needs and support government operations, making its outcome a critical issue for the country’s economic health.
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