Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has defended his absence during the National Assembly vote on the Finance Bill 2026 after facing mounting criticism from Kenyans and political commentators who questioned why he missed one of Parliament’s most closely watched sessions despite his vocal opposition to the legislation.
The Finance Bill was passed by the National Assembly on Thursday after 122 MPs voted in favour and 40 against it. However, only 162 of the House’s 349 members participated in the vote, leaving more than half of lawmakers absent during the decisive division.
Nyoro, who has been among the most outspoken critics of several proposals contained in the Finance Bill and the 2026/27 budget, did not participate in the vote, prompting widespread scrutiny on social media and in political circles. Critics argued that his absence undermined months of public opposition to the Bill and raised questions about his political consistency.
In a statement issued on Friday, the legislator acknowledged that he had disappointed many Kenyans, saying he had travelled outside the country on Wednesday evening for engagements that could not be postponed.
“The vote for the Finance Bill happened yesterday; disappointingly, I was not in Parliament. I travelled out of the country on Wednesday evening for engagements that could not have been postponed. But no explanation should absolve the blame,” Nyoro said.
The MP said he accepted the public criticism directed at him and described the feedback as a reminder of the responsibility entrusted to elected leaders. He maintained, however, that he had actively participated in the Finance Bill process before the final vote through committee engagements, parliamentary debates and public advocacy on issues affecting taxation, public spending and the economy.
Nyoro also said he had unsuccessfully pushed proposals aimed at lowering fuel prices, arguing that they were not included in the National Assembly Finance Committee’s final report and later faced procedural hurdles because they were deemed to require separate legislation.
His explanation has done little to silence critics. Lawyer Willis Otieno was among those who questioned Nyoro’s absence, arguing that missing the vote weakened his public stance against the Finance Bill after months of criticism of the government’s fiscal policies.
The controversy has renewed public attention on parliamentary attendance during critical legislative votes, particularly on tax and budget measures that have a direct impact on households and businesses. Nyoro’s absence also formed part of a broader pattern of low participation during the Finance Bill vote, with 186 MPs failing to take part in the final division despite the significance of the legislation.
The Finance Bill 2026 now awaits presidential assent before becoming law, while debate over the attendance and accountability of Members of Parliament during key legislative decisions continues to dominate public discourse.
