Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga has opposed the Finance Bill 2023/2024 proposal terming it a punishment to the Kenyan people.
Addressing the media on Monday May 8 at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation in Nairobi, Raila announced that he would instruct Azimio MPs to oppose the proposals in the finance bill.
“We wish to make it clear that as a party we will try our best to ensure that this anti-people budget is not passed by the National Assembly. In the event Kenya Kwanza uses its hired majority and passes the bill as it is, we want the people of Kenya to understand its Kenya Kwanza’s budget. We will instruct our members of parliament to have nothing to do with it,” Raila stated.
The former Prime Minister poked holes in proposals on the turnover tax saying it would affect small and medium-sized businesses.
“Currently turnover tax is applicable on sales worth Ksh 1 million and above and stands at 1 percent now Kenya Kwanza wants this tax applied on sales from as low as Ksh 500,000 and the tax is being raised from 1 percent to 3 percent the taxation will be pegged on gross sales whether the seller makes a profit or not. The biggest casualties will be small and medium-sized businesses,” said Raila.
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The ODM leader also opposed an increase in income tax on employees arguing that the salaries of most Kenyans are consumed by taxes and loans.
He further opposed the 3 percent Housing Fund proposed deductions saying Kenyans are already faced with a reduced income due to the high cost of living.
“Kenya Kwanza wants to deduct three percent of basic salaries to finance affordable Housing Scheme, how the regime arrived at 3 percent and not one or two nobody knows. In an economy where employees are already faced with a reduced income due to the high cost of goods, you find the introduction of this new tax irrational,” said Raila.
The opposition chief demanded that the Kenya Kwanza government to stops non-essential expenditures including the appointment of Chief Administrative Secretaries (CASs).
The ODM leader also demanded that the size of the government be reduced by removing excess Cabinet Secretaries and other government officials.
“We demand reduction in the size of government, excess cabinet secretaries principal secretaries, directorate advisors, aids, departs and CASs are gobbling up finances for not good value for money,” he stated.
Additionally, Raila demanded the abolishment of money being spent on political operations and money used in domestic and international travel by government officials.
