ODM Deputy Party Leader Ali Hassan Joho, on Tuesday skipped crucial ODM meeting at Orange House in Nairobi.

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Several ODM MPs and party leaders converged in Lavington for the party's Parliamentary Group (PG) meeting on whether or not to support the President Uhuru Kenyatta's memorandum on the controversial Finance Bill which proposed a 16% VAT on fuel products.

Kenyatta declined to approve the Bill, saying the VAT should be slashed by 50% to 8%, something that a section of ODM MPs dismissed saying Uhuru ought to have withdrawn the entire VAT since the taxpayer is overburdened with taxes due to the high cost of living.

Joho who is also the Mombasa governor, travelled to London, United Kingdom last week for an official visit with a delegation who included Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi, Speaker Ahrub Khatri, former Kisauni MP Rashid Bedzimba among others.

(Read more on Joho's London visit here and here.)

The party's second deputy leader, Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya also failed to attend the meeting.

ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, chairman John Mbadi, Director of Communication Philip Etale, Homa Bay Woman Representative Gladys Wanga, Kilifi North MP Owen Baya, were some of the leaders who attended the PG.

Kenyatta's Jubilee Party Parliamentary Group also continued at State House over the same issue.

Parliament is expected to debate the Bill on Thursday, September 20, before being forwarded to Kenyatta by Speaker Justin Muturi.

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