Sabina Chege recently admitted that Parliament made a mistake with last year’s Finance Bill. According to her, many Members of Parliament did not fully understand what was included in the Bill when they passed it.
This statement has raised many questions about how laws are made in Kenya and whether lawmakers really take time to read and understand what they vote for.
Sabina also blamed the Treasury Cabinet Secretary who was in office at the time, saying he was not close to the ordinary people and did not do a good job explaining the Bill to Kenyans. This poor communication made the public feel left out and ignored.When the Finance Bill was introduced, it caused a lot of anger among Kenyans, especially the youth known as Gen Z.
Many of them felt that the Bill was going to make life harder by increasing the cost of living. They decided to act by organizing protests across the country. These demonstrations were large, intense, and got the attention of the entire nation even the entire world.
People marched in different towns demanding that the government listen to their concerns. Sadly, during these protests, some people lost their lives after clashes with police. This was a dark moment that left many families in pain and raised concerns about the use of force by security officers.
Despite the tragic loss of life, the protests were not in vain. The pressure from the public became too much for the government to ignore. Eventually, President William Ruto’s administration was forced to withdraw the Bill.
This move was seen as a major win for the young people who had come out in large numbers to fight for their future. The entire incident showed how powerful citizens can be when they come together and speak with one voice. It also proved that the youth in Kenya are not just sitting back, but are paying attention and getting involved in shaping the country’s future.
This moment exposed a serious problem in the way the government communicates with the people. It showed that there is a big gap between those who make the laws and the citizens who are affected by those laws.
Parliament, the Treasury, and other leaders must now learn to be more open and honest with the public. They must also take time to explain the meaning and impact of laws before pushing them through. The protests and the withdrawal of the Finance Bill will be remembered for a long time. It was a painful but important chapter in Kenya’s history, one that reminded everyone of the importance of transparency, public engagement, and accountability in leadership.
