“This is a reckless race to the bottom. This is a Ksh23.6 billion increase in recurrent expenditure. This is a budgeted corruption in the name of tea, mandazi and flowers. It is their turn to eat, so they believe.”
On the controversial Finance Bill, the former Vice President directed Azimio Members of Parliament to lead the charge in rejecting the bill in its totality, warning that failure to do so would mean that Kenyans have to tighten their belts even more.
According to Kalonzo, ordinary Kenyans, mama mboga, boda boda riders and the people of mjengo and mkokoteni (handcart) have nothing to gain from the bill because the government is targeting them for the second time with a double taxation plan that aims to increase taxes by approximately Ksh24,000 per adult Kenyan per year.
He also feared that the proposed 2.5 percent Motor Vehicle Tax would raise the cost of car ownership and high insurance rates, which would cause a ripple effect, spreading across transportation and logistics industries, therefore, increasing the cost of living via a multiplayer effect.
The Azimio principal pointed out that the Eco Levy would be detrimental to Kenyans and would see the cost of basic products including bread and cooking oil going up.
“For instance, the Ksh150 levy per kilo of plastic packaging will increase the cost of a 400-gram loaf of bread by Ksh9 from Ksh65 to Ksh74, one litre of cooking oil by Ksh16.81 from Ksh300 to Ksh316.81,” he added.
Further Kalonzo lauded Kenyans who texted and called their MPs to reject the Finance Bill saying the move will eventually become a norm in Kenya.
This is despite some MPs expressing their commitment to passing the Bill in Parliament from Tuesday next week, threats notwithstanding.
“We salute Kenyans who have used text messaging, phone calls, and social media initiatives to urge their legislators to listen to their constituents and vote no. This specific assertiveness and engagement will eventually become the norm,” Kalonzo remarked.
A bird’s eye view of Parliament as of June 6, 2024. /PARLIAMENT OF KENYA