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MP Ndindi Nyoro apologises over Finance Bill vote skip, seeks four weeks to decide political future
Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro addresses the media at his office at KICC in Nairobi on June 27, 2026.
Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has apologised to Kenyans over his handling of last week's Finance Bill vote, admitting that he had disappointed the public.
The MP has also taken responsibility for his absence during the crucial parliamentary vote even as he asked for three to four weeks to decide on next political move.
Addressing the media in Nairobi on Saturday, Mr Nyoro said no explanation could absolve him of the criticism he had received, despite insisting he had actively participated in the debates leading up to the vote.
"I want to apologise to Kenyans for the disappointment I caused them last week during the Finance Bill vote. No amount of explanation, even the one I'm giving, should absolve me of the blame," Mr Nyoro said.
Mr Nyoro, a former Budget and Appropriations Committee chairman who had before the vote cut a niche of criticising government on its financial decisions, said he had fallen short of public expectations during the Finance Bill vote.
The lawmaker apologized to Kenyans for his conduct and promising to become a better representative following widespread criticism over his absence during the final stages of the parliamentary vote.
“I apologise to Kenyans, and we have learned from it to do better and to be better representatives of the people. I have looked at the feedback from Kenyans, and I felt it is very critical and important that we address this matter the way it is, without a bit of sugar-coating,” Mr Nyoro said.
Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro addresses the media at his office at KICC in Nairobi on June 27, 2026.
The MP said he participated fully in the Finance Bill and budget-making process from the outset, including submitting written memoranda to both the Budget and Appropriations Committee and the Finance Committee, and personally appearing before the committees to defend his proposals.
"I did my bit in terms of having written proposals to both committees... I am thankful that I was able to appear before both committees to give my proposals. Unfortunately, not many of them were carried," he said.
He maintained that he attended every day of the parliamentary debates on both the budget estimates and the Finance Bill, including the crucial Second Reading, where he opposed several provisions he believed were being forced through Parliament.
According to Mr Nyoro, the decisive vote came after the conclusion of the Second Reading debate on Wednesday when the Speaker proposed that the Bill be passed by acclamation before a section of MPs demanded a division vote.
The lawmaker pointed out that only 27 Members of Parliament were present in the chamber at the time, below the constitutional threshold required for a recorded division.
"As you know, if you are not 50 members and above, then you are not called for division. Division is what gives us an opportunity to vote individually," he said.
Despite offering the explanation, Mr Nyoro acknowledged that he should have remained in the House until the process had been completed.
At the same time, Mr Nyoro said he needed time to consult widely on his next political move.
“Over the next three to four weeks, I will give you my position, then all of us, as Kenyans, can decide together what direction we should take. And by direction, I mean which teams we should belong to, who should work with whom, who should join hands with whom, and so on,” he said.
Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro during an interview outside the National Assembly on June 11, 2026.
“This is the most important decision I have to make. I do not do things halfway… if you see me taking time, it is not because of any other consideration or because of fear. It is because I believe this is a decision that I must make while facing Kenyans with a very sober mind. I want to look at every possible angle, then explain to Kenyans all the factors I have considered,” he went on.
On whether he was still on the government side, the Kiharu MP gave a definite no.
“There is no way I can say the things I have been saying if I were still in government. To put it very plainly, especially on matters concerning the economy and how it is being managed, you cannot make those arguments while supporting the government. We no longer support the government of the day and the way it is running the economy,” he said.
“There are only two sides in Kenya today – the government and the opposition. I have made it clear which side I am not on – and you know for sure that I am not in government. As I have told you before, I left the government. It is obvious that I left the government. I keep answering this question not because Kenyans are asking it, but because politicians keep provoking me to defend my position,” Mr Nyoro said.
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