Kenya President, Ruto declines assenting Finance Bill 2024

Kenyan President, William Ruto has refused to assent the Finance Bill, 2024.

Ruto is said to have sent the bill back to the Parliament before they break for recess on Wednesday.

The president also proposed a raft of amendments to the Bill which the MPs will have to consider.

Parliament may amend the Bill in light of the president’s reservations or pass it a second time without amending it.

In returning the bill, the president will point out key areas that need to be altered.

If the MPs amend the bill fully accommodating the President’s reservations, the speaker will resend it to Ruto for assent.

If the House considers the president’s reservations, it may pass it a second time, without amendment, or with amendments that do not fully accommodate his reservations. This must have, however, been supported by two-thirds of the members.

With the MPs set to go on recess beginning, Thursday until July 23, it means that should the President return the document to Parliament the speaker may have to recall them.

Some of the tax proposals which had earlier been introduced in the bill include 16 per cent VAT on bread, Excise duty on vegetable oil, VAT on transportation of sugar, 2.5 per cent Motor Vehicle Tax and Eco Levy on locally manufactured products.

They have since been dropped.

The bill passed the committee of the whole house after these amendments were made.

The committee of the whole house format allows for detailed examination of each clause, ensuring thorough consideration before the bill progresses to subsequent stages of legislative review.