Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has clarified why he was absent from the National Assembly vote on the Finance Bill 2026, saying he was outside the country on official duty that could not be rescheduled.
In a statement on Friday, June 19, Nyoro said the Finance Bill 2026 vote took place while he was away on Wednesday evening, adding that although his absence was unavoidable, it did not remove his responsibility.
“The vote on the Finance Bill took place yesterday. Unfortunately, I was not in Parliament. I travelled abroad on Wednesday evening for commitments that could not be postponed. But no explanation should erase the blame,” he said.
The outspoken lawmaker said the concerns raised by Kenyans would help strengthen parliamentary work and representation going forward.
He stressed that he had consistently taken part in debates on both the Finance Bill 2026 and the Appropriations Bill, in committee and on the floor of the House, as part of what he described as efforts to offer alternative perspectives.
Nyoro also pointed to what he called an “unprecedented phase” in Parliament, where Majority and Minority leadership are often moving in the same direction, making oversight more difficult.
On contentious proposals such as reducing fuel prices, Nyoro said he had previously presented his views before the relevant committees, but they were not included in the final Finance Committee report.
The MP added that attempts to introduce the proposals through a private member’s bill faced procedural limits, as they were classified as a “Money Bill.”
He further said guidance from parliamentary offices suggested that such initiatives would be pursued after the Finance Bill process because of ongoing workload pressures within the Parliamentary Budget Office and other departments.
Nyoro also cited past interventions he believes influenced policy debates, including the sale of major public companies.
He said public awareness and legal challenges played a key role in stopping those initiatives, describing them as examples of the impact of parliamentary and civic engagement.
“We have taken it upon ourselves to tabulate, collate and analyse economic-related information which we share with leaders for better oversight,” he said.