Tax law is done deal, Ruto team declares amid Azimio threats
President William Ruto's troops in Parliament yesterday publicly announced that they will easily push through the controversial tax laws, even as public outrage grows with several groups mulling court action.
The President's allies spoke as the Opposition said street protests were still on the cards over the Finance Bill 2023.
The Azimio battalion led by Raila Odinga are scheduled to address the nation on Thursday and explain their next course of action.
The address coincides with the vote in the National Assembly, where MPs will either approve or reject the Bill which critics say will trigger an immediate increase in the cost of living.
President Ruto on the other hand says the proposed changes will solve youth unemployment, especially through jobs that would be created in the housing sector.
On Thursday, Raila hinted of possible street battles with Ruto’s administration should the Bill get Parliament nod.
“I have been asked wherever I go to announce demonstrations; we are putting them on notice. We will announce,” the Azimio leader said.
“Our MPs have been directed to strongly oppose that Bill, those who will support the Bill I want their voters to take note, they are traitors.”
But speaking separately in Parliament, National Assembly Minority Whip Silvanus Osoro said the Bill enjoys support across the political divide.
Osoro said up to 50 opposition MPs are silently in support of the Bill.
The South Mugirango MP said that the government is mobilising numbers that will see the Bill sail through with minimal resistance.
He said the government must finance its budget and the only way is to either tax Kenyans or go for more borrowing.
The current debt ceiling, he said, cannot allow the country to borrow.
Osoro said that Kenya Kwanza already has in its bag at least 150 Mps.
The Bill requires only a simple majority to move to the next stage.
“I had meeting with about 100 members from the majority side in phases, I met 40, another 40 MPs and then 20 members. Tomorrow (Tuesday) I am also meeting about 50 MPs from the Majority side and they are convinced that the Bill is the right thing for the country and they will support it,” he said.
“Already I am having the support about 150 MPs because winning in the NA (National Assembly) is about strategy, what numbers do you have? You don’t just say you are supposed.”
He said Kenyans will be surprised at the overwhelming support the Bill will get from the Azimio quarters when it is finally subjected to a vote.
“You have not heard the Minority whip displaying activeness in opposing the Bill and yet he is supposed to whip his members to oppose it.
In fact don’t be surprised that he will not even attend the sitting because that is part of our strategy,” he said.
The South Mugirango MP also listed Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris and Nyaribari Masaba MP Daniel Manduku as some of the Raila-allied lawmakers, who have defied Azimio position and pledged support for the Bill.
The Star could not, however, verified the claims as the two lawmakers were unreachable on phone.
Osoro spoke even as opposition to the Bill grows with more petitions likely to be filed in court.
The Star has established that civil servants are preparing to challenge the Bill through their unions.
Last week, Busia Senator Okiya Omtata moved to court over the Bill and the Law Society of Kenya has equally planned to challenge the tax laws.
The Bill will be tabled on the floor of the House on Thursday for second reading. At this stage, legislators will debate on its content and then vote before it proceeds to the next stage.
“We will give our position on Thursday, we shall tell Kenyans why we are opposed to this Bill,” Raila said.
The ODM leader was speaking from his Capitol Hill Square, where he met a section of Mt Kenya leaders led by his running mate in the last election Martha Karua.
The meeting was also attended by Jubilee secretary general Jeremiah Kioni, DAP-K leader Eugine Wamalwa, Roots Party boss George Wajakhoyah, Usawa party leader Mwangi wa Iria and former Limuru MP Peter Mwathi, among others.
Karua said some of the revenue raising measures proposed in the Bill are unreasonable and will hurt many businesses.
“Many of the tax measures contained in the Finance Bill are unreasonable and clearly directed not only at the nation but particularly at Mt Kenya businesses,” Karua said.
Kioni said the Bill is toxic to business and called for its rejection by the MPs.
“We will resist Kenya Kwanza regime economic policies that are designed to oppress, deprive or curtail economic opportunities of any of the communities that make up Kenya,” the former Ndaragwa MP said. BY THE STAR
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