Kenya Kwanza's PG Meeting at State House Postponed, Here Is Why

The Kenya Kwanza Parliamentary Group meeting slated for Monday, June 10, at State House, Nairobi, has been postponed. 

President William Ruto would preside over the meeting aimed at deliberating on the Finance Bill 2024 and the stance the lawmakers in the governing coalition ought to take. 

Senate Majority Leader and Kericho senator Aaron Cheruiyot revealed the meeting was called off and scheduled for a later date (June 17) after a request by the MPs.

He said the lawmakers requested more time for the National Assembly's Finance and Planning Committee to take in more views from the taxpayers and other stakeholders.

"There was to be a PG on Monday. But it has been postponed after the MPs asked for more time to finalise the report after engaging stakeholders over the bill," said Cheruiyot.

The senator, however, dismissed the belief that the postponement was due to the perceived tension in the ruling coalition in which divisions have lately been evident.

The Finance Bill 2024 is yet to be tabled in the National Assembly for the First Reading as it goes through the legislation process.

Kenyans have poked holes in the tax proposals therein, arguing it will hurt their economic wellness.

Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga criticised the bill saying the country will be worse if it is not revised.

In a statement on Friday, June 8, Raila said the tax burden in the country is at its highest level since independence, but public services have largely remained on their knees.

The former Prime Minister pointed out that the Finance Bill 2024 fails the taxation dictums of predictability, simplicity, transparency, equity, administrative ease, and fairness.

He termed the bill as regressive taxation that will hit low-income earners with taxes from multiple fronts than high-income earners.

“It is worse than the one of 2023, an investment killer and a huge millstone around the necks of millions of poor Kenyans who must have hoped that the tears they shed over taxes last year would see the government lessen the tax burden in 2024,” read the statement in part.

The opposition chief also highlighted the proposed taxes on bread and edible oil saying it would result in the cost of food rising.