National Assembly Chief Whip, Silvanus Osoro, has exposed a well-orchestrated strategy employed by the ruling coalition, Kenya Kwanza, to secure victory over the opposition in the Finance Bill vote of 2023. In a shocking revelation, the South Mugirango MP divulged the unethical methods utilized by the ruling party to sway their Azimio counterparts, which ultimately granted them a numerical advantage in Parliament and facilitated the passage of the contentious Finance Bill.
During his disclosure, Mr. Osoro disclosed that the government had allocated significant financial resources, without specifying the exact amount, to manipulate opposition MPs into abstaining from the parliamentary vote. By orchestrating the absence of key opposition members, the ruling party aimed to ensure minimal resistance and a smooth passage of the bill.
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“I had to find ways, through fair means or foul, to push it through. I manipulated the systems, explored avenues to align the opposition MPs with our agenda, and collaborated with them to orchestrate their absence from the House, thus securing the necessary numbers. Some were sponsored to travel abroad, while others were induced to feign illness,” Mr. Osoro asserted.
Addressing a UDA recruitment drive in Kitutu Chache South Constituency, the MP further declared that the government would employ all possible measures to prevent the courts from overturning the bill, which had been signed into law by President William Ruto.
While the Nation was unable to independently verify Mr. Osoro’s claims as Azimio lawmakers declined to comment on the matter, local residents questioned why a high-ranking official in the National Assembly, one of the three branches of government, would publicly make such statements that implicate the integrity of lawmakers.
“I’ve heard people suggesting that MPs should have voted ‘No,’ while others have urged me to vote ‘Yes’ for the Finance Bill. Allow me to ask you, as the Chief Whip of the Government… the bill being debated first lands on my desk before it is presented in Parliament or seen by anyone else. We are the ones responsible for drafting these bills,” Mr. Osoro explained. He continued, “If the bill is rejected during the vote, my position as Chief Whip is in jeopardy. I cannot allow that to happen. If it is voted down, my role could be taken away.”
He further elaborated that although the bill would impact employed individuals, the government had ensured that civil servants’ salaries were adjusted upward to compensate for the potential income loss. “Following the salary adjustments, civil servants were requested to contribute 1.5 percent, but even if you resist, you should not oppose because it’s already a done deal,” Osoro commented. He emphasized, “We will employ every means necessary to secure victory; we will employ our methods to maintain the status quo.”
Regarding the controversial passage of the bill, the National Assembly Majority Whip stated, “Although we resorted to underhanded tactics to achieve its passage, it isn’t particularly detrimental to the common people. It mildly affects the employed individuals, but overall, it is a beneficial bill.” He highlighted that had the Finance Bill not been approved, the nation would have suffered a setback in terms of development.
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