Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi Dealt Blow as MCAs Shoot Down Finance Bill

Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi was on Thursday, November 4, dealt a blow after the members of the County Assembly shot down the county’s Finance Bill 2024/2025.

The contentious finance bill did not see the light of day as the majority of MCAs outrightly rejected it saying that passing it would burden the residents of Kiambu.

As expected, there was a standoff between members of the county assembly (MCAs) who were opposing the bill and those backing Governor Wamatangi’s bill as both tried to voice their opinions.

Following the mounting tension on the floor of the county assembly, Speaker Charles Thiong’o was forced to intervene and bring to order the sitting before adjourning the House.

MCAs who opposed the bill claimed that the approval of the bill would hurt the people of Kiambu because they would start to pay for hospital expenses in level 2 and 3 hospitals.

“The finance bill is the mother act that gives power to collect revenues in this county and we cannot just leave and be told here that there is another act of collection of revenues from the hospitals and land rates,” one MCA objected.

The MCAs questioned Wamatangi’s leadership lamenting that public money was not being used prudently.

It is not the first time MCAs have shot down the Finance Bill. In 2023, 48 MCAs walked out of the assembly chambers after the executive presented the 2023/2024 Finance Bill complaining that Kiambu residents were denied development even after they had passed the 2022/2023 Finance Act.

The passing of the Finance Bill is essential for outlining how the county plans to allocate its budget, manage its finances for the upcoming year, and raise taxes.

The Finance Bill typically includes provisions for revenue collection, expenditure allocations and various financial regulations that govern the county’s operations.

The Finance Bill is vital for ensuring that local governments can fund their services and development projects.

Failure to pass the bill indicated potential challenges in funding essential services such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, and other public services within Kiambu County.

Without an approved budget framework, essential services may face interruptions due to lack of funding. Ongoing and planned development projects could be stalled as funds cannot be allocated without an approved budget.