Nairobi, Kenya – (African Boulevard News) – Members of the Kenyan opposition coalition Azimio la Umoja walked out of the National Assembly on June 15 as the Treasury Cabinet Secretary was to read his budget statement. The Ruto government has drawn up its budget for the coming year, but the opposition is not happy with the proposal. The move by the opposition MPs is a signal of their frustration with the government and its policies.
The opposition MPs, led by their party leader Musalia Mudavadi, left the chamber as the Treasury Cabinet Secretary, Ukur Yatani, got up to present the budget. The opposition lawmakers cited various reasons for their walk out, including the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, corruption, and the high cost of living.
Mudavadi said that the opposition MPs were protesting against the government’s “lack of transparency” and the “inadequate allocation of funds” to the health sector. He added that the opposition MPs had also expressed concern about the rising debt levels.
The walkout by the opposition MPs is likely to further worsen the already strained relationship between the government and the opposition. The opposition has accused the government of being insensitive to the plight of Kenyans suffering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Opposition leader Musalia Mudavadi had earlier warned that the opposition would not be party to any budget that did not address the issues affecting Kenyans. Speaking to reporters after the walkout, Mudavadi said that the government had not taken into account the suffering of ordinary Kenyans who were struggling to make ends meet.
The opposition MPs have been at loggerheads with the government over a range of issues, including corruption, insecurity, and the cost of living. The opposition has accused the government of being corrupt and indifferent to the plight of Kenyans.
The walkout by the opposition MPs is a clear indication that the opposition is not prepared to sit idly by while the government continues to ignore their concerns. It remains to be seen how the government will respond to the opposition’s concerns, but one thing is clear, the opposition is not going to back down until their voices are heard.
