What started as online rage has turned to one of the biggest indicators that a revolution is nigh.
After days of planning, young people largely identifying themselves as Gen Z (Generation Z) thronged the streets of Nairobi on June 18 for the anti-Finance Bill protests dubbed #OccupyParliament.
Despite doubts from some quarters on whether protests planned without direct involvement of politicians would succeed, the Tuesday protests were widely described as successful.
Gen Z’s-Led Pile Pressure
Even before the barrage on protesters subsided, President William Ruto led key National Assembly leadership in announcing that some of the contentious clauses in the Bill had been dropped.
Facts About the #RejectFinanceBillProtests
- It Started as online agitation as Kenyans voiced their objections to Finance Bill proposals
- Some influential figures on X first leaked phone numbers of MPs and invited Kenyans to spam them with messages declaring the rejection of the Bill
- Social media influencers including activist Hanifa Farsafi and user Osama Otero then mobilized Kenyans (mostly the youth) to show up and hold a vigil outside Parliament during the debate.
Kenyans on X and other social media platforms then crowdsourced to raise funds for printing t shirts, placards, and other essentials of the protests- Despite the bombardment of the largely peaceful protestors from the police, the Gen-Z participants vowed to show up again on Thursday.
MP’s Accused of Betrayal After Okaying Finance Bill
And as hundreds of youthful protestors engaged the police in a cat and mouse game on Thursday, June 20, Members of Parliament were debating the Bill a few meters away.
After a heated debate session, 204 MPs voted in favor of the bill while 115 voted ‘NO”.
Lang’ata MP Felix Odiwuor alias Jalang’o who had been criticized for his close ties with President William Ruto was in the spotlight ahead of the voting exercise. To the surprise of many, the former radio presenter voted ‘NO’.
What Next After MPs Voted
The process of passing a bill into law (such as the Finance Bill 2024) involves 8 crucial steps.
A bill can either originate from the Executive, individual MPs, or a Committee of the House, among other ways.
First Reading
After going through all preliminary stages for scrutiny and publication, the bill is read for the first time in Parliament.
Here, the bill is introduced in the House for the first time by way of reading of the title of the Bill by the Clerk. No debate takes place at this stage.
It, however, paves way for the select committee to proceed and scrutinize the Bill by calling in the sponsor of the Bill.
Public participation also takes place where the Committee invites various stakeholders, technocrats and external experts before submitting a report to the House that may contain proposed amendments to the Bill.
Second Reading
At this stage, a Bill is deliberated upon by the House extensively and the main debate is on the principles and objects of the Bill.
At the commencement of this stage, the member in charge of the Bill, also known as the sponsor of the Bill, moves a motion for Second Reading.
At the end of debate on the Second Reading of the Bill, a vote is taken by the House, and if the Motion is passed, the Bill proceeds to the Committee Stage but if it is defeated, the Bill is lost.
Committee Stage
Here, the Plenary converts itself into a committee that is composed of the whole membership (Members) of the Assembly hence the name ‘Committee of the Whole House’.
The object of the Committee to consider the Bill in detail clause-by-clause which includes the title, preamble and schedules contained in the Bill.
The Committee is chaired by the Deputy Speaker or any member of the Chairpersons’ Panel.
Where amendments are proposed to any part of the Bill, the Committee considers the amendment and takes a vote on each of them.
Third Reading
This is the final stage of the passage of a Bill through the House.
No further substantive amendments are taken up at this stage.
Generally, there is very little debate during the third reading, and a final vote is taken.
If the Bill does not concern county governments (like the Finance Bill), the Speaker refers it to the President for assent to make it a law.
IN NUMBERS
204 MPs voted ‘YES’
115 voted ‘NO’
28 were absent
Hashi Energies Selling 31 Vehicles & Land
Hashi Energies, a company that experienced a stint of accelerated growth from Kenya to several other countries in the region is disposing of some 31 vehicles and property in a bid to raise a Ksh5 billion debt.
The company announced that it will sell the vehicles and several parcels of land on Tuesday June 18.
As per the notice, the vehicles put up for sale include prime movers described as SITRAK models of SinoTruk.
This came one year after Hashi announced that it would go into voluntary administration to pave the way for liquidation.
Liquidation entails closing a business and selling all its assets to pay debts owed to various creditors.
History of Hashi Energies
Hashi Energies started as Hashi Empex Limited in Kenya under the stewardship of Ahmed Hashi, the founder.
At its initial stages, Hashi started as a Kerosene distributor for Chevron Kenya, using Kerosene jerry cans to supply Rwanda and DRC Markets.
In 2008, the company rebranded itself to Hashi Energy Ltd with its focus shifting to importation, distribution, and marketing of petroleum products.
The company went on to expand its activities further by venturing into the various geographical locations and increasing the portfolio of services and products to include remote logistics, engineering and food supply.
Agencies auctioning vehicles this week
- The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife announced a public auction of unserviceable and obsolete motor vehicles and stores. The sale will take place in collaboration with Speedman Commercial Agencies Limited on July 4, 2024, at the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) offices in Nairobi.
- The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, through the State Department for Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs, is set to dispose of its unserviceable motor vehicles. Bids must be submitted to the tender box located at the entry of the procurement offices on the 14th floor, marked “State Department for Social Protection – Tender Box.” by 11 a.m. on June 24, 2024.
Also Big This Week
The National Assembly Committee on Finance dropped some tax proposals in the Finance Bill 2024 deemed to be contentious. The proposals include the controversial motor vehicle tax and the VAT targeting mobile money transfer.
Rex Masai, a 29-year-old man was shot in Nairobi CBD during the anti-Finance Bill protests on June 20, 2024, night. A video widely shared on social media showed a man believed to be a police officer aiming at the unarmed man to spark outrage. Later on Friday, an autopsy revealed that Rex died after severe blood loss.
A police officer identified as David Maina blew up his two forearms after delaying to release a detonated teargas on June 18. Doctors have since confirmed that the officer will be disabled.
Photo of the Week
Compiled by
Robinson Ndungu
Graphics by Felix Kabugi
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