By The Peak News Desk
Mixed reactions filled the skies of Maara Constituency in Tharaka Nithi County after the area MP Kareke Mbiuki vowed to support the controversial Finance Bill 2026/27.
The legislator said he had no choice but to back the proposed bill, arguing that it came with funding for several stalled development projects in his constituency, projects he said, residents have waited for over the years.
Mbiuki’s decision appears to have been heavily influenced by growing pressure from residents of Muthambi, who recently pleaded with him to push the national government to secure a KSh 280 million waiver aimed at reviving the collapsed Muthiru/Wega Dairy factory in Muthambi Sub-county.
The once-promising dairy giant project, now buried under huge debts and operational paralysis, is viewed by locals as an economic lifeline capable of restoring thousands of farmers back to business if revived.
Caught between two difficult political choices, Mbiuki now finds himself walking a dangerous tightrope where, one side that supports the Finance Bill, already facing criticism over proposed tax hikes and increased cost of living, is likely to trigger public anger painting him as a government government sympathizer.
On the other hand, rejecting the bill risks isolating him from the government at a time when he is lobbying for funding to complete pending projects in Maara and revive key sectors such as dairy farming.
Political analysts say voting against the government-backed document could also expose him to fallout from powerful political figures who may interpret the move as betrayal.
Speaking during the Muthiru Dairy discussions, the MP admitted the dilemma was weighing heavily on him, noting that whichever direction he takes carries political consequences.
The unfolding debate now places Mbiuki at the center of a larger national conversation surrounding the Finance Bill 2026/27, a document expected to ignite fierce political battles across the country as Kenyans brace for possible new taxes, economic reforms and austerity measures.
The controversy comes at a politically sensitive moment as the Maara MP is widely believed to be positioning himself for the county’s top seat in the 2027 general election. His latest stand is therefore likely to shape both his popularity on the ground and his relationship with the national political establishment.
As the Finance Bill debate intensifies, residents across Maara and Tharaka Nithi remain sharply divided — some defending Mbiuki as a pragmatic leader fighting to secure development funds, while others accuse him of placing politics and future ambitions ahead of the burden ordinary Kenyans continue to face under rising taxes and a tough economy.
