NAIROBI, Kenya Jun 19 – Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has stirred political debate after suggesting that constituencies represented by MPs who voted against the Finance Bill, 2026 should face a review of their allocation of development funds.
In a press briefing a day after the National Assembly passed the Bill, Cherargei argued that legislators who opposed the revenue measures should not benefit from projects financed through the same tax proceeds.
He said the Finance Bill is central to funding the Sh4.82 trillion national budget, which supports both national and county development programmes.
“The Bill is supposed to raise money to do development in their constituencies and counties. Going into the future, such MPs and their constituencies should receive zero development,” he said.
He added that it was inconsistent for leaders to oppose revenue-raising measures while still expecting government-funded projects in their areas. “You cannot have your cake and eat it,” he said.
Cherargei praised MPs who supported the Bill, saying they had acted in the country’s interest by backing funding for infrastructure such as roads, schools, markets and affordable housing.
He also criticised more than 180 MPs who were absent during the vote, pointing in particular to Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, saying he should have participated in a debate he often speaks about publicly.
He further faulted the 40 MPs who voted against the Bill, accusing them of undermining efforts to raise revenue needed for development. He said county allocations had increased from Sh415 billion to Sh428 billion, requiring additional resources from the national government.
“There will be no development without raising revenue. To finance the budget, we must raise revenue, and the only way is to pass the Finance Bill,” he said.
The senator said approval of the Finance Bill and the Supplementary Appropriations Bill would help unlock funds for stalled infrastructure projects, including the Mau Summit–Rironi highway and the Isiolo–Mandera road.
He also responded to comments by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of misleading the public by celebrating MPs who opposed the Bill.
The Finance Bill 2026 was passed after a heated debate in the National Assembly, exposing divisions among lawmakers.
Supporters said the Bill is necessary to finance government programmes and reduce reliance on borrowing, while critics argued that some of its proposals could increase pressure on households already facing a high cost of living.
Cherargei, however, maintained that the Bill also contains tax relief measures aimed at easing the burden on ordinary Kenyans.
The vote came nearly two years after the contentious Finance Bill 2024 triggered nationwide protests that led to its withdrawal.
