Renowned political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi has chided Opposition leader Raila Odinga and his Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya Coalition over their defeat in the Finance Bill 2023 vote in Parliament.
The Finance Bill 2023 was passed by a majority of 176 legislators, with only 81 MPs voting against it. The Bill was tabled in Parliament by National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani on Tuesday, June 13.
The Bill seeks to raise taxes on a number of goods and services, including fuel, alcohol, and cigarettes. It also seeks to introduce a new tax on digital payments.
Azimio MPs had vowed to shoot down the Bill, arguing that it would further burden Kenyans who are already struggling with the high cost of living. However, they were outnumbered by the Ruto-led Kenya Kwanza MPs.
In a tweet, Ngunyi said that Azimio's defeat in the Finance Bill vote was a "big shame" for the coalition.
"They could not even raise a bi-partisan consensus of 100 MPs. Ruto had twice the number of MPs at 176/81. What a shame! And what is the point of being on the wrong side of history? It is over," Ngunyi tweeted.
The political analyst also reflected on how Azimio lost the Supreme Court battle when they challenged the outcome of last year's presidential election.
"Azimio is full of Razzmatazz and Walhalla…Too much fury, signifying nothing.. How they lost the war on #FinanceBill2023 is how they lost the Supreme Court battle. Too much drama and no substance," he said.
Since the beginning of the year, Mr Odinga and his allies have been piling pressure on President Ruto and his administration over a number of issues, including the outcome of last year's polls, the hiring process of IEBC commissioners, the rising cost of living, among other supposedly ‘ills’ of the government.
At the height of streets protests Azimio leaders and their supporters, President Ruto called for bipartisan talks between his government and members of Opposition. However, the talks have since collapsed, leading to the present political standoff.
It remains to be seen how Azimio will respond to their defeat in the Finance Bill vote. However, it is clear that the coalition is facing an uphill battle in the run-up to the 2022 general election.