The National Assembly has approved a special session to debate the contentious Finance Bill 2024 before voting on it on Tuesday.
The special session was agreed upon during a Tuesday sitting, and the legislators have now scheduled an extra sitting on Thursday beginning at 9 a.m.
The motion was introduced by Majority Leader Kimani Ichungw’ah following approval by the House Business Committee.
“This, Mr Speaker, will allow members the opportunity to debate the Finance Bill, 2024, given that many members are interested in contributing to the debate,” Said Ichungwah.
Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi backed the motion, saying the decision was sound because it would give MPs more time to contribute to the Bill.
“It was seized on the House Business Committee that we allocate enough sitting days for members to contribute effectively and for their constituents to get to know where they stand on this matter,” he said.
MPs also agreed to extend Wednesday afternoon sittings until 9:30 p.m., allowing as many people as possible to participate in the Bill debate.
Meanwhile, the government has dropped a number of contentious proposals from the Finance Bill 2024, which is set to be tabled in the National Assembly on Tuesday afternoon.
The proposal to impose a 16 percent Value Added Tax on bread, financial services, and foreign exchange transactions is at the top of the list of proposals that have been withdrawn due to sustained public pressure.
The announcement came after a meeting of members of parliament from the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition, led by President William Ruto, at State House in Nairobi.
Comment here