Why Ruto Should Dissolve Parliament, Call for Fresh Elections

Why Ruto Should Dissolve Parliamenr, Call for Fresh Elections

• Lawyer Nelson Havi argued that Kenyans aggrieved by the Finance Bill 2024 are not satisfied by President William Ruto's move to withdraw it
• He observed that the lot wanted a regime change that would be actualised by a fresh general election
• This would, however, need the constitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) which has remained inactive since the 2022 polls

Kai Eli, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi: Former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president Nelson Havi wants President William Ruto to consider a total overhaul of the country's administration.

He asked him to reconstitute the quorum-deficient Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), dissolve the National Assembly, and then call fresh elections.

This was after he observed that the Kenyans aggrieved by the Finance Bill 2024 were not satisfied by the president's move to reject it, adding that what they want is a change of regime.

"I have listened to the People’s assembly in the twitter space. It is evident the People are not pacified. They want change in Executive and Legislature now. Way out: constitute IEBC; dissolve Parliament in reliance upon CJ Maraga’s advice; and conduct a general election," said Havi.

On Wednesday, Ruto said he had noted the bill's unpopularity and hence opted to reject it.

He sent the bill back to Parliament with instructions that the members review it and delete all the clauses, pass it as a blank bill before it is enacted.

This followed a wave of mass action protests across the country, with young Kenyans striving to pressure him to withdraw the bill they condemned for containing draconian tax provisions.

As per Kenya's constitution, if Parliament fails to enact legislation in accordance with the law, the president might be under the counsel to dissolve the National Assembly.

The new parliament would then enact the moribund bill.

Controversial Finance Bill 2024

• The bill unveiled in May triggered resistance from Kenyans who decried the provisions with high taxation measures.
• Among the new taxes proposed therein were the 16% VAT on ordinary bread and the 2.5% motor vehicle circulation tax.
• Kenyans took to the streets to disapprove of the bill, even as the lawmakers passed it in the National Assembly ready for the president's assent.

Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke