NAIROBI, Kenya –Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has broken his silence over his absence during the National Assembly vote on the Finance Bill 2026, acknowledging public criticism and admitting that no explanation should excuse his failure to be present for the crucial vote.
In a statement released on Friday, Nyoro said he had travelled outside the country on Wednesday evening for engagements that could not be postponed, but accepted responsibility for missing the parliamentary session in which lawmakers voted on the controversial tax legislation.
“The vote for the Finance Bill happened yesterday; disappointingly, I was not in Parliament. I travelled out of the country on Wednesday evening for engagements that could not have been postponed. But no explanation should absolve the blame,” he said.
His absence attracted criticism from Kenyans who had expected him to take part in the debate and vote, given his vocal opposition to some of the government’s fiscal policies and his recent push for measures aimed at reducing fuel prices.
The National Assembly passed the Finance Bill 2026 during the Third Reading stage, with 122 MPs voting in favour and 40 against.
However, the exercise was marked by significant absenteeism, with a large number of legislators failing to participate in the vote.
Nyoro defended his record, saying he had consistently participated in debates on both the Finance Bill and the Appropriations Bill through committee engagements and on the floor of the House, where he sought to offer alternative views on matters affecting businesses, investments and the economy.
The legislator also argued that Parliament is operating under unusual circumstances where the leadership of both the Majority and Minority sides often take similar positions on key issues, making effective oversight more challenging.
On his proposal to lower fuel prices, Nyoro said he had presented recommendations to parliamentary committees, but the Finance Committee did not incorporate them into its final report.
He noted that efforts to introduce the proposals through amendments to the Finance Bill were unsuccessful because they were classified as a money bill, requiring a separate legislative process.
Parliament had earlier acknowledged receipt of Nyoro’s proposals seeking legislative amendments to reduce fuel costs and referred them to relevant committees for consideration.
The MP has argued that the measures could significantly lower the price of fuel and ease the cost of living for Kenyans.
Despite the backlash, Nyoro thanked Kenyans for holding leaders accountable and said public feedback would help him improve his service both inside and outside Parliament.
He pointed to previous interventions, including opposition to a proposed increase in day secondary school fees and his challenge to the planned sale of government shares in Safaricom, as examples of issues where public scrutiny and alternative viewpoints had influenced national debate.
“As human as we are, we are far from being perfect and we will always seek to learn from the feedback we receive,” he said.
The Finance Bill 2026 now awaits the next stages of the legislative process after securing parliamentary approval.
