Raila applauds Members of Parliament for backing Finance Bill

Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga has congratulated all Members of Parliament who stood by the Party and NASA’s resolutions to back the Finance Bill 2018 in the National Assembly on Thursday.

In a statement today Raila said party discipline, which enables Parliamentary Group to support the policies and directions of the party is critical to strengthening the political parties system in the country, delivery of the party’s agenda and aiding the process of democratization.

He emphasized that party discipline is going to play a critical role as Kenyans seek to actualize dreams of the country’s rebirth and re-engineering as contained in the nine-point Building Bridges to the New Kenyan Nation MOU.

He thanked his party MPs adding despite their different concerns, they were able to honour their word and commitment to the party and looked at the larger picture in line with the party and the coalition’s dream of finding longer-term solutions to the country’s ages old problems.

The ODM leader has assured Kenyans of his commitment to the pursuit of a lasting solution to the country’s problems through pragmatic steps arrived at through bipartisan support devoid of the traditional rhetoric and brinkmanship.

Meanwhile, Members of Parliament opposed to the signed Finance Bill passed by the National Assembly on Thursday are planning a legal challenge to the legislation that became law on Friday.

Kapenguria Mp Samuel Moroto says they are confident that the court will overturn the legislation to cushion Kenyans from what he termed as punitive taxes.

President Uhuru Kenyatta defied pressure from a section of legislators and Kenyans to sign the Finance Bill 2018 in what he says will help his government raise money to fund his Big Four agenda and ensure that Kenya honors her debt obligations.

The Mps who opposed his memorandum though are planning to move to court next week to challenge the Finance Act.

The Mps who claim the Act imposes punitive taxes are optimistic that the court will overturn the legislation.

Kapenguria Mp Samuel Moroto calling on President Uhuru Kenyatta to tame corruption and wastage in his administration as it would yield billions that would be used to bridge the budget deficit the government finds itself in.

Moroto further called on NASA leader Raila Odinga to rally his troops in effectively checking government claiming the opposition had failed the country during debate on the presidential memorandum.