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ODM summons its MPs who voted for the Finance Bill/were absent
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party Thursday summoned its 28 members who were absent during voting on the second ReaSecondf Finance Bill 2023, and those that voted for it, saying they had defied the party position and should be disciplined.
In a letter, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna said that MPs have 48 hours to reply on why action should not be taken against them.
“In line with the party disciplinary rules, notices to show cause why disciplinary action should not be taken have been issued to the said members. They are expected to respond within the next 48 hours,” Sifuna says in the letter.
After a heated debate on Wednesday, the controversial bill sailed to the third reading stage after 176 MPs voted in its favor against 81 who voted against it.
Mackenzie’s Shakahola followers returned to the rescue center after they promise to eat
The Shanzu Magistrate Court Thursday ruled that 64 adherents of controversial pastor Paul Mackenzie be taken back to the rescue center in Kilifi County, where they were previously being held. The victims had been transferred to Shimo la Tewa Maximum Prison after they staged a hunger strike while at the rescue center.
After being asked to respond to whether they will abide by the rules of the rescue center, they all agreed and vowed to cooperate with investigating authorities in the matter.
They were initially 65, but one of the female victims who told the court that she would not cooperate with authorities investigating the Shakahola massacre will remain remanded at the Shimo la Tewa Women’s Prison.
The victims, while initially at the rescue center in Mtwapa, had declined meals served to them by the State for no apparent reasons; police, however, said this began after Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki’s remarks about the Shakahola cult leader Mackenzie.
During a recent church service, the Interior boss stated that Mackenzie’s crime amounts to a lifetime sentence in jail.
“Mackenzie will not get out of jail; he will age in there. We pray that God gives him more years to see Kenya’s security prosper. He will not get out of jail; Mackenzie will meet the wrath of God after jail,” he said then.
Lawyers withdraw services for pastor Mackenzie
Two lawyers, George Kariuki and Elisha Komora, representing controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie and his co-accused Wednesday, withdrew their services in the case before the Shanzu Law Courts.
They told the local media the withdrawal was due to frustration from the state in handling the case against their clients.
“Since the beginning of the case, despite our calls for our clients to be treated well, our efforts have been in vain,” said Kariuki.
“We have tried begging them to make it easier for us to reach our clients while in police cells, but the state is giving mere reasons,” said Komora.
“For that reason and others raised by my colleague Mr. Kariuki, I also withdraw my services for the suspect Mackenzie and the rest,” added Mr. Komora.
However, a third lawyer, Wycliffe Makasembo, said he would continue representing the suspects.
“For whichever case, I will stand with Mackenzie and the rest until further a do; nothing will make me abandon them,” he said.
“But what I want to insist is for the state to make it easy for this matter to continue.”
Makasembo has expressed the feeling that, in the end, the suspects will get justice.
He has urged the chief magistrate of the Shanzu Law courts in Mombasa, Yusuf Shikanda, to stay away from any external pressures trying to control the flow of the case.
Prepare for maandamano if you pass Finance Bill— Raila Odinga
Azimio la Umoja One Kenya leader Raila Odinga Wednesday said he would lead Kenyans in protest against the passage of the proposed Finance Bill, 2023.
Odinga condemned critical issues in the Bill, including 16 percent taxation on petroleum products, the housing levy, and insurance compensation.
“Hiyo Finance Bill ni kuweka msumari ya mwisho katika jeneza ya maiti…Finance Bill ikikuja hapa Wakenya watakuwa mahabusu wa kulipa ushuru pekee yake, hakuna mtu ambaye amekataza serikali kutoza ushuru, tayari iko pale msingi wa kutoa ushuru…serikali ya Uhuru ilikuwa inatoza watu ushuru na ilikuwa inafanya kazi,” he said.
He added that if the government insists on passing the Finance Bill, he will have no option but to lead Kenyans to the streets to protest against the punitive tax proposals.
“Watapitisha hiyo Finance Bill…hiyo itakuwa ni parapanda, mtakuwa mko tayari? Jamaa alikuwa anaonya ati hakuna maandamano imekubaliwa…Bwana Kithure Kindiki…Katiba inasema ya kwamba wananchi ndio number one, wako na haki ya kuchagua na kunyakua, Wakenya watatumia haki yao. Hiyo ushuru kama unataka kuleta wacha watu waketi waelewane vizuri,” he said.
Azimio Chairman Wycliffe Oparanya asked Members of Parliament, including those from Kenya Kwanza, to vote against the Finance Bill and save the hustlers.
“We know that in your heart of hearts, you know this budget is wrong. We urge you to join your Azimio counterparts and stand with the people. We ask the mama mbogas, watu wa mjengo, watu wa boda boda, the teachers, nurses, doctors, and hawkers, among others, to ask themselves, does this budget serve your welfare?” Oparanya posed.
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