Azimio No Show? Kenyans Criticise Leaders For Not Showing Up for Affordable Housing Vote
On Tuesday, February 20, the Affordable Housing Bill 2023 successfully advanced to the third reading as 141 legislators supported the bill during the Second Reading phase.
In the course of the proceedings, legislators aligned with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) responded to President William Ruto’s motivational appeal. They attended in significant numbers to support the proposed legislation aimed at officially establishing one of President William Ruto’s enduring initiatives.
During the voting process, it was swiftly noted by Kenyans that numerous Azimio legislators were not present. Only 58 Members of Parliament aligned with the opposition cast their votes in favor of rejecting the proposed legislation.
Several Azimio politicians, such as Babu Owino (representing Embakasi East), Peter Salasya (Mumias East), and Naisula Lesuuda (Samburu West), were notably absent from the chambers.
Timothy Wanyonyi (Westlands) and Beatrice Elachi (Dagoretti North) were also not present.
Kenya Kwanza takes delight in numerical aspects within the Parliament, leading citizens to inquire why the officials have not fulfilled their fundamental duty of overseeing and holding the government accountable.
“How can they put the government at check if they ain’t showing up?”
In elucidating his nonattendance, Babu Owino posted images on his official social media platforms, showcasing him providing instruction to a Mathematics class in Kisumu County.
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Esther Passaris, the Nairobi Woman Representative affiliated with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, was not present at that time as she was participating in a Gender Mainstreaming Workshop for Women Parliamentarians.
However, Gathoni Wamuchomba, the Githunguri MP who is known for her strong opposition to the government despite being elected under the UDA ticket, was also absent from the chambers during the voting process.
This indicates that the Bill is nearing approval to become law, enabling the government to subtract 1.5 percent from the salaries of employees in Kenya.
Before the commencement of the voting process, Kimani Ichung’wah, Majority Leader in the National Assembly, urged fellow legislators to take into account the perspectives of their constituents while making their voting decisions.
“Vote for jobs! Jobs! Vote for wealth creation and vote for a new Kenya,” Ichung’wah stated amid a chorus of boos from the Azimio side.
Earlier in the week, President Ruto appealed to MPs to ensure swift passage of the bill, emphasizing its potential to alleviate the unemployment crisis in the country.
“I don’t think there is anyone who needs persuasion on housing. Do we still have anybody who has any doubts, surely? For the places where housing projects have started in Ruiru, crime has gone down,” Ruto stated during a Kenya Kwanza Parliamentary Group meeting in Naivasha.
Azimio No Show? Kenyans Criticise Leaders For Not Showing Up for Affordable Housing Vote