A few days before the 2023 Finance Bill is due to be read for the second time in Congress, the stage has been set for confrontation between its opponents and supporters.
Opposition leaders from the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition have warned against a return to street protests if the 2023 Finance Bill is passed.
Azimio boss Raila Odinga was in Bungoma County on Saturday, where he continued to put forward proposals in a bill he said would overburden overburdened taxpayers.
Raila vowed to fight to the brim to swallow the bill in a whirlwind of strong opposition against it.
Odinga said food price has skyrocketed and parents are unable to pay for school fees.
“Bei ya unga imepanda, bei ya mafuta imepanda, bei ya petrol imepanda, bei ya sukari imepanda, gharama ya stima imepanda, karo ya shule imepadna…ndio sababu tukasema punda amechoka, si punda amechoka?” said Tinga as quoted by Citizen TV.
Odinga accused Ruto of tribal appointment in governmental jobs.
“Alikuwa amedanganya Mudavadi na Wetangula ati watapata 30%, iko wapi? Waluhya wanafutwa kazi, kabila wanafutwa kazi kabila moja inawekwa, Waluhya wanalipa ushuru, Wakisii wanalipa ushuru, Wajaluo wanatoa ushuru, Wakamba wanatoa ushuru, Kenya haiwezi kuwa ya kabila moja au mbili pekee yake,” said Raila.
Martha Karua also poked holes on the bill and called for its suspension, terming it oppressive.
“Hii Finance Bill ni mbovu, inapatia mtu ambaye ako na helicopter na ndege asilipe tax ya ndege hiyo na spare yake, lakini wewe mama wa kupika chai na chapati na mandazi, wewe boda boda, wewe mtu unapata shilingi 1,400 kwa kila siku, wewe unaitishwa kodi, tunasema kodi lazima iwe na uwazi iwe inaleta usawa kwa kila mtu,” said Karua.
