Mumias East MP Peter Salasya has claimed that a majority of UDA lawmakers from the Mt Kenya region deliberately skipped the vote on the Finance Bill 2026 due to growing pressure from constituents opposed to the Government’s policies.
In a statement shared on social media following the parliamentary vote, Salasya noted that only 162 Members of Parliament participated in the voting process on what he described as one of the most important pieces of legislation before the House this session.
According to the outspoken legislator, the bulk of the absentee MPs came from the Mt Kenya region, particularly those elected on the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket.
“Their conspicuous absence speaks volumes,” Salasya said, suggesting that many lawmakers feared the political consequences of taking a position on the Finance Bill amid rising public discontent.
The MP credited the opposition-aligned Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) and its popular slogan, “Skiza Ground,” for increasing pressure on elected leaders in the region.
He argued that the campaign has amplified public scrutiny and made it difficult for some MPs to openly support Government-backed legislation perceived as unpopular among voters.
Salasya claimed that rather than face criticism from their constituents, several UDA lawmakers opted to stay away from Parliament during the crucial vote.
“A number of UDA representatives from the region chose to stay away rather than face the music,” he stated.
