BEYOND PROTESTS: Kenyans can recall all legislators who pass the Finance Bill 2024

Numerous direct calls and texts to Members of Parliament seem to have jolted legislators as to the depth of resentment concerning current revenue-raising measures being proposed, which are viewed as painful by the majority in the country.

Through its Secretary General Senator Edwin Sifuna, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has directed its parliamentarians to vote against the bill and to suspend all or any travel that will prevent their participation during its debate.

Similar directives are also expected of its affiliates under the Azimio la Umoja coalition umbrella.

Meanwhile, following the announcement of protests, the ruling Kenya Kwanza Coalition administration led by the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party has had a parliamentary group meeting to address various emerging issues causing public anger.

Punitive tax proposals, a public backlash against numerous presidential foreign trips, and the public relations antics of a disgruntled deputy president have not gone down well with the public.

UDA is holding party elections, and the current tax rage is not auguring well for party recruitment or the smooth running of affairs.

Kenyans are keen not to be distracted from weighty public finance matters and are judging every political decision through the lenses of prudent management in line with campaign promises of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

Yet there are pessimists who see this as the usual simple but passing “revolutionary” fervour that will not last more than a fortnight because digital activism is an act of cowardly keyboard warriors who are not willing to stick their necks out for their beliefs.

However, it should be noted that these actions complement public participation in the National Assembly by various citizen and stakeholder groups that have grown in number from about 12 in 2016 to a total of 889 in 2023.

While popular cultural methods such as memes and rap songs pervade the space to showcase how the current law is expected to make Kenyans suffer more and cripple business further, the question of parliamentary legitimacy should take centre stage.

This is because members of the August House seem to have abdicated their duty in so far as ensuring their constituents' concerns are adequately heard and represented in the corridors of power.

Such lacklustre performance should be punished especially with regard to their failure to ensure fairness and prudence in the management of resources as stipulated under the guidelines of Chapter Six which sets standards on “Leadership and Integrity”.

Kenyans should therefore know that going by these legal thresholds set by the constitution they can recall their members of parliament if they vote for the finance bill against their wishes in accordance with The Elections Act.

This law stipulates that MPs can be recalled at least 2 years after they are elected and no later than one year or twelve months before the next general elections. This gives the public a unique opportunity to punish lazy lawmakers for poor performance between September 2024 to August 2026.

Consequently, to attain the needed influence to overcome political, administrative, or public relations machines gearing up to pass or popularize unpopular laws, citizens should organize and set up mechanisms recalling any MP who will displease them.

By presenting these 24 months as a moment to reassess the utility of lawmakers, Kenyans will be offering a form of democratic coercion that forces leaders to stop politicking left, right, and centre.

Leaders in academic, civil society, faith-based, private sector, trade unions, and professional associations, organizations or groups should therefore coordinate with the public in this fashion to hold politicians accountable in this short window of time afforded to them.

The author is the Regional Coordinator of the East African Tax and Governance Network (EATGN). Follow on X @lennwanyama.