The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo has voiced strong opposition to President William Ruto’s plan to create a broad-based government by including opposition members in the Cabinet.
On July 24, President Ruto appointed four ODM party members to his administration, sparking speculation about a possible alliance between the government and the opposition.
Azimio leader Raila Odinga, however, has denied any formal power-sharing agreement, stating that the appointments were made in a personal capacity.
In a breakfast interview on Citizen TV, Maanzo likened the proposed broad-based government to a broad-based dictatorship, recalling the one-party rule under former President Daniel Moi.
He criticized National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah for allegedly using his position to influence parliamentary decisions, claiming that most laws are passed with undue influence from the majority.
“We have witnessed an abuse of power. Ichung’wah’s approach resembles a form of forceful rule, which is unconstitutional. The broad-based government poses a risk of evolving into a broad-based dictatorship,” Maanzo asserted.
Having served in Parliament for 12 years, Maanzo noted that many laws are passed under questionable circumstances and that public participation in legislative processes is often a facade.
He also discussed the Finance Act 2023, which was recently declared unconstitutional by the courts, suggesting the country revert to the previous Act. Maanzo urged the government to address corruption issues to ensure efficient use of taxpayer funds.
“We need to act swiftly to address this. A new Finance Bill is necessary, or even substantial amendments to the 2022 Finance Bill, to ensure effective governance,” he said.
Maanzo also pointed out that despite collecting substantial taxes, misuse and inefficiencies mean the country sees limited benefits, with financial activity often stagnating at the start of the fiscal year.
