Finance Bill
Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka has made a clarion call to all Kenyan citizens to take action and participate fully in the forum of the implementation of the Finance Bill 2024. Musyoka and other political leaders jointly urged the state not to implement the tax bill as it would kill the middle-class businessmen, mama mbogas and make life of Kenyans unbearable.
“It looks to me like this government is committed to killing the middle class rather than supporting it, and the worst thing is that the taxes go to the pockets of individuals,” lamented Musyoka.
The Wiper leader recalled that back in the days, together with the former President Mwai Kibaki, they deliberately grew the middle class, adding that the middle-class citizens are the ones driving cars and still being told that if they don’t pay taxes they should leave their cars at home.
“The middle class creates the engine of economic growth but if you bring everyone to the same level our industries will die,” he cautioned, adding that tampering with the middle class is like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.
Musyoka made these remarks during the Citizen’s Legislative Conference organized by the County Government Watch where citizens and politicians were able to engage on various legislative bills currently being considered by parliament among them the Finance Bill 2024 and the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) Bill.
He called upon the public to take action and not to claim ignorance while also encouraging them to safeguard public participation since they have the right, dignity and capacity to make decisions and shape the country’s destiny. Musyoka further urged political leaders to put to action what they publicly announce to the citizens.
At the same time, The Institute of Social Responsibility (TISA) Executive Director Diana Gichengo of highlighted the areas facing budget cuts in the Finance Bill 2024 including education, health, agricultural sector and social protection. “We are ambitious because we know Kenyans are productive, and we want to grow. Last year expenditure target was Sh2.9 trillion however, it has jumped to Sh3.5 trillion this year,” revealed Gichengo.
She stated that the Finance Bill must make additional revenue adding that this year they have collected a tax of Sh1.54 trillion and on that, Sh1.24 trillion has gone to repay public debt. “We used to say that in every ten shillings, seven go to debt but now with every ten-shillings, eight go to debt,” said the Executive Director.
Gichengo explained that through the Finance Bill 2024, the Value Added Tax (VAT) for food commodities for example tea and bread would go up, there would be an introduction of public transport sector tax, an increase cost of eco levy and increase the cost of sending money and making calls.