NAIROBI, Kenya May 26 – Raila Odinga, the leader of Azimio, has reiterated his warning of organizing nationwide mass demonstrations in response to Parliament’s potential passage of the Finance Bill 2023.
Raila renewed his threat on Friday during a meeting of the Azimio coalition in Yatta in Machakos County.
“We have told Ruto that he needs to rectify things in his budget or else he knows what we will subsequently do next,” he said.
The Bill, aimed at amending various laws pertaining to taxes and duties, is currently in the public participation stage.
The process, overseen by the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning, is expected to lapse on May 29, 2023.
President William Ruto is actively mobilizing support in Parliament to ensure the timely passage of his first budget, scheduled for reading on June 15, 2023.
He continues to accordingly rally his allies, working in overdrive, to secure the necessary support for the successful passage of the budget bill during the upcoming parliamentary debate. The target approval date for the bill is June 30, 2023.
During the Yatta meeting, Raila criticized the controversial provisions in the proposed Finance Bill, referring to them as an insult to the already burdened Kenyan population grappling with the escalating cost of living.
“The soaring cost of living is already burdening Kenyans, and they are also weary of it. The Finance Bill if passed will only be adding insult to injury,” he said.
Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka expressed that they would demand an open vote in Parliament during the consideration of Finance Bill.
“Kenyans want to know whether you are with them or against them because this is a matter so basic. We are either going to achieve vision 2030 or ruin the future of this country through impossible taxation,” he said.
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