By Jeff Mote
JUNE 19 – It’s June 18th 2024, the Finance Bill 2024 conversation is reverberating across the country, on the stage is the National Assembly and the important role it plays in our democratic system.
The National Assembly, is much more than just a legislative conveyor belt it is a guardian of public interest and a vital check on government power. Its ability to make or break the Finance Bill emphasizes its role in representing the people and getting the electorate’s voice heard.
The foundation of democracy is the principle of representation. The National Assembly embodies this principle, serving as the main forum through which the citizenry’s voices is heard. Each elected member of parliament brings with them the needs, aspirations, and dreams of their constituents, translating them into legislative action.
The Finance Bill 2024, outlines tax reforms, public expenditure plans, and economic policies, and its import on every citizen has certainly not been lost. The robust debates in the August House will offer a theatre for a wide array of views to be considered. This was preceded by public participation which sought representatives from different regions, economic backgrounds, and social strata to provide input that would ensure the bill reflects the state of the nation. This procedure is not just about crafting sound economic policy; it’s about making sure that the policy is fair and equitable, measured against the impact it will have on the populace.
An important aspect of the August House’s role is to act as a check on the Executive branch. This is
essential in ensuring that government actions are transparent, justified, and most importantly aligned with public interest. The Assembly’s scrutiny of the Finance Bill 2024 will be a prime example of this critical function.
As the government presents its budget and economic plans, it is the Assembly’s responsibility to
meticulously review these proposals. Asking the crucial questions that Wanjiku needs answered;
reasoning behind the tax increases, value-for-money in government expenditure, and examining the overall economic plan. Such rigorous examination done right is the very reason I would call my member of parliament, “mheshimiwa” as that call of duty is indeed honourable.
The spirit of the National Assembly’s work lives through its representative nature. Your M.P. is not
merely a lawmaker; he/she is an advocate for their electorate. Now whether your MP is tone deaf, or is keenly “listening to the ground” comes to the fore on matters like the Finance Bill 2024.
During the House deliberations, will your “mheshimiwa” ask questions specific to their constituencies, whether it is about the impact of new taxes on digital services, demand reason for the lid to be lifted on his constituent’s private data or the statistics suggesting that the upsurge in the nation’s diabetes cases can only be stopped with a tax on bread? Do you think they will or of importance is life?
The Finance Bill 2024 has become a litmus test for the place of public participation in the legislative process. If the Assembly’s role in shaping of a bill is important then the public’s engagement with the content of the bill is sacred.
Public participation is indispensable to the bill’s formulation. This allows the people to voice their
opinions directly, ensuring that their views are considered in the lawmaking exercise.
It is evident that if the public feel like their participation and representation was a mere tick in the box, there are other avenues they are willing to explore, via digital activism with hashtags like
#RejectFinanceBill or mobilization for protests like “Occupy Parliament”.
The National Assembly’s role in the deliberations on the Finance Bill 2024 underscores its importance as a voice of the people and a check on government power. As citizens juggle the complexities of economic policy and governance, parliament ideally should be the epitome of democracy, ensuring that the nations’ aspirations are heard and their interests protected. Its role signifies the essence of representation, accountability, and public participation, underscoring the immutable principles of our democracy. In such pivotal times of legislation, such as the Finance Bill 2024, Parliament’s role is not just important; it is indispensable.
The people are watching. The people are listening. But above all, the people are speaking.
The bottom line is that the people’s voice, WILL BE HEARD.
The writer is a communication consultant
