Mbeere North constituency Member of Parliament Leo wa Muthende has reignited debate over a controversial bill that was dramatically rejected amid protests and parliamentary resistance.
Speaking during an interview, the legislator expressed frustration over what he termed as a rushed rejection driven more by emotion than substance.
According to him, the bill had been misunderstood by many including young protesters and some lawmakers who opposed it without fully interrogating its long term impact.
MP wa Muthende argued that the proposed legislation was designed to tackle persistent structural challenges that have dogged the country for decades.
Among these, he singled out unemployment, particularly among the youth, as a crisis that required bold and sometimes unpopular policy interventions.
He insisted that dismissing such measures outright only entrenches the very problems critics claim to fight.
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The MP took aim at critics of proposed tax increases, especially those touching on imports, saying the measures were meant to protect and stimulate local manufacturing.
He noted that whenever the government attempts to shield domestic industries through higher taxes, importers are quick to label the move draconian, even when similar policies are used successfully in other economies.
According to wa Muthende, supporting local manufacturers would ultimately expand production, create jobs, and reduce reliance on foreign goods.
He maintained that without deliberate protection of local industries, unemployment would continue to rise, leaving young people frustrated and disillusioned.
He also urged Gen Z activists to engage more deeply with policy details rather than reacting to slogans and social media narratives.
While acknowledging the importance of civic activism, the MP said sustainable change requires understanding how economic policies work in practice.As debate rages on, the fate of similar future bills now appears set to face even closer public scrutiny.
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