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Ruto officially writes Parliament to withdraw Finance Bill, 2024

President William Ruto during a press Briefing at State House, Nairobi on June 25, 2024 after a day of deadly protests. (Photo: REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi)

By Maureen Kinyanjui | Wednesday, June 26, 2024

This comes shortly after he rejected to assent to the Finance Bill, saying that he heard the cry of citizens who were urging him to drop the bill.

President William Ruto on Wednesday evening formally communicated to the National Assembly to delete all clauses of the Finance Bill, 2024.

This comes shortly after he rejected to assent to the Finance Bill, saying that he heard the cry of citizens who were urging him to drop the bill.

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"In exercise of the powers conferred to me by Article 115(1)(b) of the Constitution, and having reservations on the content of the Bill in its entirety, I decline to assent to the Finance Bill, 2024, and refer the bill for reconsideration by the National Assembly with the recommendation for deletion of the clauses thereof," reads the memorandum in part.

This means the bill has been withdrawn, and now it can only be reinstated if at least two-thirds of the 349 MPs (which is 233 MPs) vote to overturn the decision.

According to Article 115 of the Constitution, the President is required to assent or refer to the Bill within 14 days of receipt from Parliament.

The constitution provides that when referring a bill back to parliament, the President shall note any reservations he has concerning the Bill.

Parliament shall then amend the bill in light of the president's reservations or pass it without amendment.

"If parliament amends the Bill fully accommodating the President's reservations, the appropriate speaker shall re-submit it to the president for assent,'' reads Article 115(3).

Parliament shall then after considering the president's reservations, may pass the Bill a second time, without amendment, or with amendments that do not fully accommodate the President's reservations by a vote.

The vote must be supported by two-thirds of the members of the National Assembly.

The National Assembly approved the bill on Tuesday and presented it to the president for assent into law.

Following the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024, the government will continue to use the Appropriation Act of 2023 to access funds for its expenditures.

Addressing the nation earlier in the day at State House Nairobi, President Ruto declined to assent to the bill

"Having reflected on the continuing conversation around the content of the Finance Bill 2024, and listening keenly to the people of Kenya, who have said loudly they don't want anything to do with this Finance Bill 2024.

"I concede and therefore I will not sign the 2024 Finance Bill and it shall subsequently be withdrawn and I have agreed with these members that this becomes our collective position," Ruto said.