UDA's Parliamentary Group on Monday, January 24, 2022, held its first meeting of the year.
In a statement, the party revealed that at the meeting, members were appraised of the progress made so far in galvanizing the party’s position in the country’s political spectrum.
"Members also had the opportunity to vigorously interrogate and audit the party’s platform for socio-economic transformation based on the Hustler Nation’s Bottom-Up economic framework," the statement read in part.
The MPs raised concerns over the push by the government to increase the country's debt ceiling which they noted has burdened the ordinary mwananchi.
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Accordingly, the PG resolved to resist any further attempts to burden the people of Kenya with unaccountable debt.
"Party members are, therefore, resolved to oppose the proposals in the Finance Bill to tax poor people. The UDA, as a matter of policy, is categorically opposed to anti-Hustler fiscal measures and the sort of predatory taxation or the use of national revenues to sponsor unconscionable profligacy," the statement read.
The UDA PG also resolved to amend the Budget Policy Statement in order to increase the allocation to counties to 35 per cent, noting that it is a practical measure to increase resources to finance service delivery at the real bottom of our socio-economic pyramid.
Key issues discussed at the PG meeting include; the Political Parties Bill, Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, Huduma Bill, Finance Bill, Petroleum Products (Amendment) Bill, and the Regulation of Political Parties Act.
"Our members will participate robustly and vigilantly to ensure that the legislative output is pro-Hustler and conforms with the core principles of the UDA national socio-economic transformation platform," UDA assured.
The PG noted that the incumbent and next governments must ensure Kenyans in the semi-arid and arid areas are sheltered from the drought that has since devastated parts of the country.
The UDA PG resolved to introduce amendments to the Budget Policy Statement and the Supplementary Budget to allocate resources to cushion Kenyans from harsh economic conditions and the impacts of the drought.
"Priority, therefore, must be accorded to drought mitigation and recovery by subsidising the prices of farming inputs," the statement read.
UDA maintained that it will involve and consult with members of the public occasionally to ensure that their interests are well represented and championed in parliament.
The party also noted that is committed to conducting its political activities in a peaceful, inclusive and respectful manner that optimises democratic engagement and produces a cohesive national conversation.
"We, therefore, strongly deplore any form of inciting, divisive or discriminatory activities during the campaign period, or at any other time. Our communication and broadcast media must be tools of progressive nation-building, not incitement and the propagation of hate.
"Our criminal justice system must perform its constitutional duty of protecting freedoms and effectively dealing with anti-social tendencies during the campaign," the statement read in part.
The PG also endorsed the partnership between UDA, ANC and Ford Kenya and agreed on a programme of joint rallies.
