Controversial bills that were tabled in parliament in 2024

Members of parliament, who christen themselves as protectors of the public's interests, faced Kenyans' wrath for tabling controversial bills that harboured selfish interests. 

This played out during the tabling and subsequent passing of the Finance Bill 2024 which sought to hike taxes to generate an extra Ksh.346 billion in revenue. 

In an unprecedented move, the youths took to the streets to call for the bill's withdrawal and better governance.

This culminated in parliament's invasion on June 25, 2024, an act interpreted as the public's vote of no confidence towards the regime. 

To save face, President William Ruto declined to sign the bill and fired his cabinet but critics argued it was already too late. 

The Affordable Housing Bill was another bill in Kenyans' crosshairs for the better part of 2024. The bill proposed Kenyans continue paying a housing levy of 1.5 per cent of their monthly pay. 

According to the State, the funds would be used to construct houses for low-income citizens. Critics, however, expressed their dissatisfaction over the levy, citing that it was an additional burden amid a raft of new taxes. 

Following the protests, lawmaker Geoffrey Ruku introduced a bill that sought to impose tougher rules governing demonstrations in the country. 

The bill required the protests' organisers to provide a three-day notice to the police to acquire permission. Senior police officers would also have the power to decline planned protests for safety reasons. 

Opposition voices questioned the timing of the bill, at a time when tension was high owing to the concluded anti-government protests.

This also raised concerns about whether MPs had become a rubber stamp for the executive. 

Presidential term limits have always been a sensitive subject among Kenyans hence when a bill sought to extend a head of state's tenure from five to seven years, the public went into a frenzy of rage.

Sponsored by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2024, did not see the light of day following the public uproar. 

When defending his move to propose the bill, the senator argued that Kenya's elections set back the country by billions of taxpayers' money. 

"Kenyans, are you aware that in the 2022 General Elections Ksh.35.8 billion which translates to Ksh.2,000 per voter, was used with an outstanding pending bill of Ksh.2.05 billion by IEBC?" Cherargei posed on October 28, 2024.

"This is the most expensive election cost in the world. That's why we don't need to hold elections regularly because these monies can be used for development projects across the country," he added.