National Assembly Finance Committee Chair Kuria Kimani has sought guidance on how to handle Ksh168,000 he received from the public while drafting the Finance Bill 2024. The Molo MP approached National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula on Wednesday, noting the legality issues surrounding the receipt of public funds.
Kimani disclosed the matter while tabling the Finance Bill for its second reading. “In a very special way, although these people breached the Data Protection Act by sharing our numbers with Kenyans, I thank those who wrote to us, called us, and even sent money to verify the authenticity of our numbers,” he stated.
The disclosure comes in the wake of activists making legislators’ contact information public to pressurize them into removing punitive taxes from the Bill. Kimani, a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) MP, admitted that the public’s calls and messages had influenced the Committee’s final draft of the Bill.
“I have written to the clerk wondering what to do with the Ksh168,000 that was sent to me because receiving these gifts from the public is against the laws of this Republic,” Kimani explained. He mentioned that he would seek Speaker Wetangula’s guidance after the morning sitting.
Kimani also shared that he had attempted to reverse the transactions through a telecommunications company but found it challenging due to the large number of small amounts involved.
In a related incident, Mumias East MP Peter Salasya revealed he had received Ksh40,000 in a similar manner. Unlike Kimani, Salasya used the money for a church fundraiser in Kakamega County on Sunday, June 16.
This issue highlights the complexities and legal challenges surrounding public engagement and contributions to legislators during the legislative process.
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