Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has described the 40 MPs who voted against the Finance Bill 2026 as “heroes” for standing with ordinary Kenyans against what he termed an oppressive tax regime.
His remarks came hours after the National Assembly passed the Bill by 122 votes to 40, clearing the way for it to be sent to President William Ruto for assent.
The vote concluded a period of intense political lobbying and public discourse regarding the tax measures included in the legislation.
In a statement that quickly spread across social media, Gachagua said the 40 lawmakers had chosen “55 million Kenyans” over government pressure.
“History will remember the 40 Honourable Members who stood with the people of Kenya,” he said.
“You are the true heroes of our nation.”
He reserved his sharpest criticism for MPs who supported the Bill or skipped the vote altogether.
“For those who voted YES to oppress the people who elected them, as well as those who deliberately kept off when it mattered most, I am sure Mr William Ruto is very happy with you,” Gachagua said.
The former deputy president had earlier directed MPs allied to his Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) to reject the Bill and force a division vote so that every lawmaker’s position would be publicly recorded.
The Finance Bill debate has unfolded against a backdrop of growing public frustration over the high cost of living.
Across Kenya, households are grappling with shrinking incomes, traders are facing weak consumer spending, and small businesses are contending with rising operating costs.
Supporters of the Bill argue the measures are necessary to finance government programmes and support the KSh4.8 trillion budget for the 2026/27 financial year.
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Critics, however, say taxpayers are being asked to carry an increasingly heavy burden.
Seeking to elevate the significance of the vote, Gachagua pointed to the symbolism of the number 40 in both the Bible and the Quran, telling Kenyans to remember the lawmakers who voted against the Bill.
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