Mumias East Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Salasya has disclosed what he told his colleagues who voted “YES” to the controversial Finance Bill 2024 moments before protestors making their way into Parliament buildings.
Speaking in an interview on July 12, Salasya recalls warning the MPs to run, noting that the protestors had already arrived and were ready to confront them.
“I warned all those MPs who voted ‘yes’ “you are still here, and the youth have already arrived?”. I told them to run. You mean you are seeing trouble arrive and you’re sitting?” Salasya said.
According to Salasya, those involved in drafting the bill were manipulating public opinion and were unaware of the potential consequences.
“I warned members of parliament not to ever joke with the emotions of Kenyans, I think somebody who tried to look at that Finance Bill, was trying to play with the minds of the people but never knew that they were playing with a hot potato,” he recalled.
Also Read: President William Ruto Dissolves Cabinet
Additionally, the MP alleged that some of the legislatures had made up their mind to vote against the bill. However, they changed their mind upon visiting State House.
“The thing of parading MPs in State House is where there’s a problem. When some members went to State House, they had made up their minds that they were going to vote against the Finance Bill but after going there they changed the narrative, so the problem is not Parliament,” he said.
Salasya further spoke on the recently sacked Cabinet secretaries criticizing them as incompetent.
“There is something that lacked. If you bring somebody who is incompetent, you will be scared to tell them the truth,” he noted.
Salasya noted that despite the president dissolving the cabinet, the country was far from getting to the root of the problem.
“Even if we say that we want to dissolve Parliament we’re not getting to the root of the problem,” he concluded.
Occupy Parliament
Kenyans made their way to the parliament on June 25 to protest against the Members of Parliament who supported the Finance Bill 2024.
This decision followed protests under the hashtags reject the Finance Bill banner which culminated to occupy parliament which saw thousands show in Nairobi and other towns.
Also Read: Salasya Defends His University Performance, Blames Leadership
Ruto Dissolves Cabinet
Following the anti – Finance Bill protests, President William Ruto bowed to pressure and withdrew the Bill and eventually dissolved his cabinet.
In an announcement on Thursday, July 11, Ruto announced that all Cabinet Secretaries had been dismissed at State House Nairobi in an address to the nation.
The Head of State, however, noted that Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi will not be affected by the dismissal of CSs.
“Upon reflection, listening keenly to what the people of Kenya have said and after a holistic appraisal of the performance of my Cabinet and its achievements and challenges, I have, in line with the powers given to me by Article 152(1) and 152(5)(b) of the Constitution and Section 12 of the Office of the Attorney-General Act, decided to dismiss with immediate effect all the Cabinet Secretaries and the Attorney-General from the Cabinet of the Republic of Kenya except the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs,” said Ruto
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