Silvanus Osoro: We Bribed Azimio MPs to Skip Parliament During Finance Bill Vote

National Assembly Chief Whip Silvanus Osoro has exposed an elaborate strategy used by the ruling coalition, Kenya Kwanza, to gain a numerical upper hand in the vote for the Finance Bill 2023. 

The South Mugirango MP on Thursday revealed the dubious and unethical tactics they used to gain the support of the opposition, including arm-twisting Azimio MPs into bribes. Osoro reported that the government had spent a large sum of money (but did not specify how much) to manipulate the opposition MPs to not attend the voting. During a UDA recruitment drive in the Kitutu Chache South Constituency, stated that the government would utilize all means to make sure that the bill, which was endorsed by President William Ruto, would not be overturned in court.

"I had to look for ways, by hook or by crook, to get it through, I had to manipulate systems, I looked for ways to get the opposition MPs to play our tune, I conspired with the opposition MPs and got some of them to absent themselves from the House so that I could get the numbers. Some were sponsored to go abroad while others were bribed to feign illness," Mr Osoro claimed. 

Residents have questioned why somebody in such a respected role in the government would make remarks out in the open that could harm the reputation of other legislators. Comments from the Azimio representatives are yet to be received. EALA MP Maina Karobia on Friday defended Osoro saying it is the job of the Majority Whip to prioritize the government's interests in Parliament. In response to reporter Ayub Abdikadir's inquiry as to why Osoro resorted to bribing for a numerical advantage over Azimio in the House, Karobia humorously suggested that the Majority Whip had to be both "innovative and pragmatic."