Dagoretti North Member of Parliament Simba Arati has cleared opposition leader Raila Odinga's name in the ongoing tax debate.
Speaking on Radio Citizen's 'Pata Shika' Wednesday night, Arati noted that Odinga never compelled his Orange Democratic Movement lawmakers to support the 8 percent price hike.
He said that instead, the former Prime Minister told the lawmakers to take their own independent stands during their Parliamentary Group meeting on Tuesday.
"Raila hajashurutisha mtu yeyote aunge ama apinge mswada. Alisema kila mtu achukue msimamo wake mwenyewe (Raila has not compelled us to vote in any way, instead, he told us to make our own decision)," he said.
The party, however, on Tuesday pledged support for the proposal made by President Uhuru Kenyatta for a period of one year, after which the government is to come up with separate ways of raising the required funds.
However, a section have since publicly distanced themselves from the statement, including Rarieda lawmaker Otiende Amollo who has openly vowed to vote against the proposal.
"Good People, many have asked if my stand on VAT has changed, NO it hasn’t. I will Vote Against imposition of 8% on Petroleum Products. I believe that to be right, then we engage on what else needs to go, including CDF, CASs, NYS, Big 4 & others," he said in a tweet on Wednesday.
The consideration of the proposal is set for Thursday, during a special sitting which will bring the lawmakers back from their ongoing break.