President William Ruto has decided not to sign the Finance Bill, 2024, and instead will send it back to Parliament for reconsideration before they break for recess today.
The President has also proposed a series of amendments to the Bill, which Members of Parliament (MPs) will need to review. Parliament has the option to amend the Bill in response to the President’s concerns or to pass it a second time without changes.
Upon returning the Bill, the President will highlight specific areas that he believes require modification. If MPs amend the Bill to fully address the President’s concerns, the Speaker will resubmit it to the President for his assent.
Alternatively, if Parliament considers the President’s reservations but does not fully accommodate them, they may pass the Bill a second time, potentially without amendments or with changes that do not fully satisfy the President’s recommendations. Such a decision would require support from at least two-thirds of the members.
Given that MPs are scheduled to go on recess from today until July 23, the Speaker may need to recall Parliament should the President return the Bill for further consideration.
