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Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Alliance Thursday called out President William Ruto for his strong stance to push for the passage of the Finance Bill 2023 against strong opposition to the bill by Kenyans.
Azimio leader Raila Odinga said the coalition would organize Kenyans to overrun the president should he force parliament to pass the controversial bill.
“We have noted that the regime has run out of sound bites and explanations for their Finance Bill 2023 proposals and resorted to threats,” Odinga said.
“Should Ruto overrun the National Assembly, we will regroup and overrun him in the wider National Assembly of the whole people of Kenya,” he added.
Odinga said the Kenya Kwanza administration had imposed many taxes with nothing in return and termed the bill an economic sabotage.
“No regime has imposed so many high taxes on our people in return for nothing except fantasies and fairy tales. This Bill is economic sabotage. If Ruto insists on this Bill, this country will go into full recession. This Bill requires and must get fierce resistance,” he said.
In a meeting convened on Thursday in Nairobi, the opposition coalition gave out to the president to assuage the people from the effects of the high cost of living and salvage the tanking economy.
They asked the government to stop the duplication of county roles and responsibilities. The opposition said that in the proposed Bill, the budget for health is growing by Ksh 35 billion at the national level, despite health being a devolved function.
It also demanded that the government adopt zero-based budgeting and avoid using the previous budget as the baseline. “Every budget must start at ground zero, where everything has to be justified,” Azimio said.
Further, the opposition demanded that the government stop growing the budget size and instead “cut it down and live within your means.”
Instead of imposing new taxes, Azimio said the Ruto-led government should seal the loopholes that lead to loss of revenue and stop non-essential government expenditures, including the appointment of Chief Administrative Secretaries.
Azimio also demanded that the Kenya Kwanza administration cut non-essential domestic and international travel and freeze ministerial out-of-station allowances, ministerial house allowances, and domestic allowances for cabinet and principal secretaries to raise more revenue
In conclusion, Azimio said President Ruto should withdraw the bill and start afresh.
“We ask Ruto to humble himself, withdraw this Bill, offer an apology, and seek forgiveness from Kenyans for the anxiety caused, then begin afresh,” Azimio stated.
John Mbadi says President Ruto lied to Kenyans
Nominated MP John Mbadi Thursday accused President William Ruto of lying to Kenyans during his presidential campaigns in the lead-up to the 2022 General Election.
“You must implement your manifesto, but you were not truthful about it. You should have told Kenyans that when you elect us into the office, we will implement the housing program by levying 3 percent of your salaries to finance it. That you didn’t tell Kenyans,” Mbadi said.
“What Ruto told Kenyans was that Uhuru was overtaxing them and that he will make sure taxes come down. Today, taxes are going up, and you did not communicate that to Kenyans. So, the question is, are you really implementing the manifesto that you sold to Kenyans?” Mbadi posed in a national TV interview.
“You were dishonest, you deceived Kenyans, and they deserve an apology. Those who voted for you deserve an apology. They are so frustrated because they thought things would be done differently,” he added.
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