MP Gogo to Osoro: Release names of Azimio MPs you bribed

Rangwe MP Lilian Gogo wants National Assembly Majority Whip   Silvanus Osoro to name opposition lawmakers whom he said took bribes during the passage of the Finance Bill 2023.

Gogo argued that Osoro’s claims were so serious and amount to character assassinating that need to be backed with evidence.

She said many Kenyans want to know the names of Azimio members of parliament alongside the amount of money used to bribe them.

“Osoro should publicise the list of opposition MPs who took the bribe if he wants us to believe him. Let him give a documentary evidence to support his bribery claims,” Gogo said.

Speaking during Saba Saba protests against the high cost of living at Rangwe trading center in her constituency, the MP said she will take legal action against the majority whip over such remarks.

On Friday, Osoro was quoted saying that they used dirty tricks including bribery of opposition legislators to push through the Finance Bill, 2023.

Opposition had already stated its position over the bill as it rejected it in totality.

The opposition argued that implementation of the bill would increase the cost of living in the country by subjecting Kenyans to higher taxation.

Osoro claimed that they tricked MPs allied to Azimio La Umoja to ensure the bill was given the green light in the National Assembly.

The majority whip said some Azimio MPs were paid to go for foreign trips while others feigned illness to skip the sittings.

The objective was to reduce the number of opposition legislators during voting in the national assembly.

But Gogo dismissed Osoro’s claims saying he has no mandate to organise foreign trips for MPs.

The MP was accompanied by MCAs Ojala Nyang’I (Kochia), Hamilton Odhiambo (Kagan), Paul Odok (Gem East) and the constituency ODM chairperson Caroline Owidhi.

She said foreign trips are organised at the office of the speaker, clerk or relevant committees in the House.

The Rangwe MP accused Osoro of using the names of opposition MPs to build his relationship with the State House.

“We’re going to institute litigation against Osoro as one of the leaders who abet corruption in the country,” she said.

Owidhi said the party advised its MPs to reject the bill on grounds that it was not popular among Kenyans.

“The bill was forced into the throat of Kenyans. The bill perpetuates the high cost of living,” she said.      BY THE STAR