Tuesday, May 16, 2023 –Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition Party leader Raila Odinga has today warned the government against forcing their proposed Finance Bill 2023 down throats of Kenyans.
Odinga who was addressing the matter from his Nairobi offices, today Tuesday May 16, said the erroneous bill should not see light of day despite the intensified chest-thumbing from the Kenya Kwanza side.
Raila, therefore, urged his supporters across the country not to support such proposal from the same government which should be working hard to protect and shield her citizens from unnecessary taxes.
“Since then, the Kenya Kwanza hubris has kicked in. The top leadership of the Kenya Kwanza regime in Parliament and the Executive have pronounced themselves on this matter. The have said the Finance Bill will pass as it is. They have said not even a coma shall be removed,” Raila fired.
He pointed out that it was in bad faith that the William Ruto-led side wants the Bill to sail through whether the populace wants it or not.
The Azimio boss, especially, took issue with remarks by National Assembly Majority Whip, Sylvanus Osoro, who during the recent launch of Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale’s book, said government has never lost any war.
“With the fact that the government does not lose, I want to assure you that even the Finance Bill will pass.
“At the time of our statement last week, we took some comfort in the fact that the Bill was being subjected to public participation and there was a possibility that the reservations of Kenyans would be taken into consideration,” he added.
The opposition leader also directly fired at President William Ruto who, on Sunday may 14, described the three percent housing levy as ‘mandatory patriotism’.
“Kenya Kwanza’s leadership in Parliament has also declared that they will have their way because a government never loses,” Mr. Odinga said.
Odinga was speaking this while flanked by Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Narc-Kenya boss Martha Karua among several other leaders with a resolve to protect themselves from high taxation should the government side not stop the exercise.
