President Uhuru rejected the Finance Bill 2018 which Kenyans had been anxiously waiting for, on Thursday evening.
While, earlier in the day, the Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi had experienced accusations in which he was apparently reported to be deliberately sitting on the Bill.
The President’s rejection of the Bill now puts to rest the ongoing stalemate over the 16 per cent VAT on fuel. Minority Leader John Mbadi had on Thursday described Mr Muturi’s action as “unfortunate and dishonest”.
Inquiries at the clerk’s office show that the Bill was concluded for forwarding to the President a week ago, however, it was still at Mr Muturi’s office since then.
This statement fanned fear that the government had been using delaying tactics regarding the controversial tax which has been a subject of a major crtisicism for about two weeks now.
There are no deadlines in place concerning Bills that are to be forwarded to the president by Parliament once they have been passed by MPs. The law only stipulates that the President’s assent to a Bill must be done within 14 days of receipt or return it to Parliament with a memorandum failing which it automatically becomes law.
