National Assembly Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss Shollei has slammed people criticizing Majority Whip Silvanus Osoro for allegedly compelling Azimio la Umoja coalition MPs to skip voting for the Finance Bill 2023.
While speaking during an interview with Citizen TV on Monday, July 10, Shollei stated that, if the allegations are true, then Azimio MPs should be blamed for accepting the ‘Soup’ (bribe).
“You’re complaining that Osoro gave soup to your members of parliament, you should be castigating your MPs for accepting the soup,” she stated.
Shollei’s sentiments came after Osoro was captured on tape saying he used crooked and unethical methods, including bribery, to persuade some Azimio MPs into skipping the parliamentary session on the day of voting.
“I had to look for ways by hook or crook to get it through. I had to manipulate systems; I looked for ways to get the opposition MPs to play to our tune. I conspired with some opposition MPs and got some of them to be absent from the House so that I could get the numbers. Some of them were sponsored to go abroad while others were bribed to feign illness,” Osoro said during a UDA recruitment drive in Kitutu Chache South Constituency according to a report by the Nation.
However, Osoro later stated that he was misquoted.
Also Read: Osoro Rubbishes Claims that He Bribed Azimio MPs, Claims He Was Misunderstood
Moreover, the National Assembly deputy speaker added that the MPs who were allegedly sponsored to go abroad should have declined the offer and remain in the country to oppose the bill in parliament.
Shollei further revealed that she was to attend a meeting abroad but had to postpone her trip to avail herself at the voting exercise.
“I was supposed to go there during the time of the Finance Bill because I took it seriously and I stood behind. The delegation is made up of Kenya Kwanza and Azimio MPs. Kenya Kwanza members did not go either. Some in Azimio went but some like Hon. Kaluma did not go.” She stated.
According to Shollei, the MPs had the liberty to make a personal choice and they fell for the bait.
“You cannot depend on Osoro to tell you whether to go or not. You are the one to decide. Osoro can throw some goodies and tell you to go but you decide,” she said.
Nonetheless, Osoro said used different strategies to push for the successful passage of the bill and had even written to the clerk to stop any Kenya Kwanza MP from travelling outside the country to ensure there was a majority representation during the voting exercise.
“That should be an explanation from the Azimio side. Whatever strategy I employed as far as working to push government business is concerned that is me and we should all live that way,” said Osoro.
