Speaker rejects effort to repeal Finance Bill

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has rejected Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo's attempt to repeal the withdrawn Finance Bill 2024, stating that only an Act of Parliament can be repealed. CapitalFM reports that Amollo's proposed Bill aimed to overturn the Finance Bill, which President William Ruto declined to sign into law following public outcry. ‘The Finance Bill 2024 is not an Act of Parliament and cannot become an Act of Parliament by effluxion of time. Your proposed draft repeal Bill of the Finance Bill 2024 is therefore alien to the applicable legal instruments,’ Wetangula stated. In response to widespread street protests, Ruto referred the Bill back to the National Assembly with a recommendation to delete all its clauses. Wetangula emphasised that Parliament has previously amended Bills to meet the President's request to delete all proposed clauses, underscoring that house committees can only propose legislation to amend an Act of Parliament. The House Finance and National Planning Committee is handling the matter. They are expected to present their report when the House returns from a short recess on 23 July. The House will then have 21 days from that date to review and consider the report.