Karobia Defends Osoro Amidst ‘Bribery’ Confession on Finance Bill
Maina Karobia, a member of the EALA, has defended National Assembly Majority Whip Silvanus Osoro for using all available means to ensure the passage of the controversial Finance Bill 2023.
This follows Osoro’s admission on Thursday that he used shady and unethical tactics, including bribery, to convince some Azimio MPs to support the motion backed by the Kenya Kwanza administration.
“I had to use any means necessary to get it through. Had to manipulate systems; I sought ways to get opposition lawmakers to dance to our tune. I connived with opposition lawmakers and arranged for some of them to be absent to obtain the required number of votes. According to the Nation, Osoro stated this during a UDA recruitment drive in Kitutu Chache South Constituency.
ALSO READ: Silvanus Osoro Confession: MPs Bribed to Skip Finance Bill Vote
Speaking on Citizen TV’s Daybreak Show on Friday, Karobia stated that the Majority Whip must ensure that the interests of the current regime receive top billing in the House of Representatives.
“As majority whip, it is Osoro’s responsibility to ensure that the best interests of the ruling party and Kenyans prevail in Parliament,” said Karobia.
“Because he is the Majority Whip, Osoro would have been in a difficult position if the Finance Bill 2023 had failed to pass.”
When asked by show host Ayub Abdikadir why Osoro had to resort to bribery to ensure that Kenya Kwanza had a numerical advantage over Azimio in the House during the vote, Karobia responded tongue-in-cheek that the Majority Whip needed to be ‘innovative and pragmatic.’
“Being a Majority Whip requires innovation. The people you are responsible for rely on you for leadership, solutions, and direction. No individuals will be present to direct themselves. People will view you as a failure if you fail in such matters, so you must be pragmatic,” he explained.
Karobia Defends Osoro Amidst ‘Bribery’ Confession on Finance Bill