If Ruto insists on this bill, the country will go into full recession- Raila Odinga.
Speaking to the media, Opposition leader, Raila Odinga decried the poor state of the country. He pointed fingers towards the head of state, saying he’s wrong to impose heavy taxes on Wananchi.
He stated,”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,”
“We have noted that the regime has ran out of sound bites and explanations for their Finance Bill 2023 proposals and has resorted to threats. 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.
The opposition leader went ahead to recommend the following strategies to the head of state.
He stated,”Rather than burden Kenyans, we want Ruto to undertake the following:
1. Stop duplication of county roles and responsibilities. In the proposed Bill, budget for health is growing by Ksh35 billion at the national level, yet health is a devolved functions.
2. Adopt zero-based budgeting. Don’t take the previous budget as the baseline. Every budget must start at ground zero where everything has to be justified.
3. Don’t grow size of the budget, cut it down and live within your means.
4. Instead of imposing new taxes, seal the loopholes that lead to loss of revenue.
5. Stop non-essential government expenditures including the appointment of Chief Administrative Secretaries.
6. Reduce the size of government.
7. Cut non-essential Domestic and international travel.
8. Freeze ministerial out of station allowances, ministerial house allowances and domestic allowance for cabinet and principal secretaries.
9. Stop corruption and theft of public funds.
10. Finally, we ask Ruto to humble himself, withdraw this Bill, offer apology and seek forgiveness from Kenyans for the anxiety caused, then begin afresh.
Also read If your MP is opposed to the bill, do not ask for roads- DP Gachagua