ODM MP’s Son Defends Father Amid Online Fury Over Finance Bill Vote
Uriri Constituency MP Mark Nyamita found himself at the centre of social‐media backlash when allegations circulated claiming he had supported the controversial Finance Bill 2024. The uproar followed a post by blogger Cyprian Nyakundi, who listed Nyamita among the 204 MPs said to have voted in favour of the bill. In response, Nyamita’s son publicly shared documentation showing his father had actually voted No, aligning with the 115 opposition MPs—settling the dispute and silencing much of the online criticism.
The confusion deepened amid Nyamita’s growing drift toward the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), despite being elected on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket. This shift has earned the scrutiny of ODM Secretary‐General Edwin Sifuna, who warned party members that they would be summoned if they defied the party’s directives or ignored its clear position on the bill. Meanwhile, the Finance Bill has now returned to the Finance and Planning Committee for review before its third reading and final vote, with the law expected to take effect from July 1, 2024.
The episode highlights the power of social media in shaping political narratives and the vulnerability of public figures to rapid online campaigns. Analysts suggest that Nyamita’s situation serves as a cautionary tale for politicians whose party loyalties and voting records are scrutinised in real time by a vigilant electorate. Looking ahead, this incident may signal a growing trend of immediate fact‐checking and public accountability in Kenya’s political arena—an environment where reputational missteps are quickly amplified and where transparency may become the new political currency.