Kenyans vs The “Zakayo” Finance Bill 2024

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Protests seem not to end any time soon as protesters have taken to social media to announce a full lineup. Thursday,20^th June is going to be the busiest in Kenyan towns as Meru, Nakuru, Eldoret, and Kisumu residents are also going to take it to the streets.

On the other hand, Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has blamed protesters for the injured officer who lost his hands, he said “As we sit here today, Chief Inspector David Karuri Maina has lost both of his arms, today he is a disabled person. He has been disabled in the line of duty by the protesters. My beautiful young people who are being propelled with propaganda, look at the facts, don’t get caught up in activism and violence that leads to bloodshed. That officer who lost his hands, his blood is on you.”

On the matter, The opposition wants a complete overhaul of the  Finance Bill 2024. A meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Group (PG) held at Nairobi’s County Hall On Tuesday night resolved to reject the Proposed legislation to raise revenue to Finance Kenya Kwanza’s next budget.

They accused President William Ruto’s administration of playing mind games with Kenyans over a Bill meant to improve the country’s economy. Instead, they dismissed the proposals  of the  government as piecemeal and failed to address the grievances of Kenyans suffering from unnecessary taxes.

The opposition stated, “The changes to the Bill announced today (Tuesday) give the impression that the government is playing mind games with the people. They create a sense that some of the proposals that have now been dropped were included in the original Bill just to Create outrage and allow the administration to claim that it is listening and caring.” Said Wandayi.

Azimio questioned taxing bread, motor vehicles, and sugarcane, Among others.

“There was never any justification for proposing to increase the tax on bread. There was no justification for proposing to tax sugarcane delivered to factories,” Mr Wandayi lamented.

He continued: “The car tax was silly and outrageous from the start. The evil mind that came up with it was simply testing the resolve and emotions of Kenyans. It takes a bad government to govern by mind games and Kenya Kwanza is such a government”.

Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi concluded by saying that The Azimio La Umoja Coalition is fully against the Finance Bill, he stated, “As a coalition, we reject the entire Bill and demand total withdrawal. We encourage Kenyans to continue engaging with the bill and continue demanding that the government does the right thing .” Following the demonstrations, a new bill has been proposed by Mbeere North Member of Parliament Geoffrey Ruku. The Bill proposes a one-year Jail term, a fine of 100,000ksh or both for Kenyans arrested for protesting without permits.