The Members of Parliament during their seating yesterday gave the National Assembly Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso hard time as they gave a harsh declaration on the current state of Budget that was read this month by the CS of Finance Henry Rotich.
The parliament proceedings came to a standstill as the MPs vowed to do anything to disregard the budget after CDF funds allocations were skipped in that budget.
The deputy speaker was forced to allow the MPs to proceed to a “Kamkunji” for two hours so that they can deliberate on a way forward after two civil society organizations moved to court to block the National Treasury from disbursing the funds.
Duale tried to convince the MPs to ‘secure’ the allocation which is contained in the Appropriations Bill currently before the House while they wanted for the High Court to rule on a suit filed by civil society groups blocking the National Treasury from disbursing the funds.
“I am not telling you to pass it but you know the budget includes even our salaries but as we sit here, we don’t even have the CDF money in the budget. Why are we in court? What are you defending, because CDF means resources,” Duale said as he was drowned by MPs jeering.
Minority Leader Francis Nyenze went on and declared that the House would not approve the Sh2.3 trillion budget presented by Rotich early this month as the other MPs joined him and supported his comments.
“If there is no CDF, there is no budget. We will stop the budget process unless this is secured. We have a leverage point and this is the card that we will play; No CDF, no budget! No CDF no budget!” Nyenze said as he was joined by his colleagues in the chant.
The MPs have up to next week on Thursday to approve the budgetary estimates but they remained adamant that they will paralyze government operations if the Executive does not disburse the funds.