ODM leader Raila Odinga should be the last person to castigate the Finance Bill 2023, Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen has said.
He argued that most proposals especially the housing levy where the government wants to deduct three per cent to finance construction of affordable houses for Kenyans were first suggested by Raila.
Murkomen said Raila had such a proposal in his manifesto during the campaign period and he would have implemented it had he succeeded in his quest to be president.
"I don’t see any reasons why leaders should not have a common ground on the current Finance Bill. The housing levy proposal was initiated by Baba (Raila) and he campaigned with it in his manifesto,” Murkomen said.
He said most political parties in Kenya have similar policies and manifestos and it was wrong for leaders to tell Kenyans to reject the whole Bill.
The CS claimed the UDA and ODM manifestos on housing levy were the same.
Murkomen was speaking on Monday when he presided over the inaugural flight of Renegade airline at Kabunde airstrip in Homa Bay Town constituency.
The event was attended by Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, area MPs Peter Kaluma (Homa Bay Town), Caroli Omondi (Suba South) and Lillian Gogo (Rangwe).
The Finance Bill 2023 has been hit with controversy over the proposed mandatory three per cent monthly deduction from salaried Kenyans ahead of voting on the Bill by the National Assembly.
Raila and other Azimio leaders have demanded the withdrawal of the Bill on grounds that it will overburden Kenyans and asked their coalition MPs to reject it in totality.
On the other hand, President William Ruto has called on MPs especially from Kenya Kwanza side to approve the Bill on grounds that it will support economic development of the common man (the hustlers).
Murkomen said he knows that whereas Raila is opposed to the Bill, he is privately happy because the idea was borrowed from his manifesto.
"I know even if he (Raila) criticises the Bill, when he goes back to the house he confirms in his heart that the proposal was lifted from his manifesto,” Murkomen said.
The CS said many Kenyans are facing hard economic times and it would be prudent if leaders agreed to work together and address the challenges.
He told Azimio leaders not to oppose the Bill just because the government is headed by President Ruto.
Raila competed against Ruto in the last presidential election but lost marginally to Ruto in the hotly contested polls.
The two leaders are former political buddies who previously worked together in ODM before falling out soon after the formation of the grand coalition government in 2008.
Murkomen said he does not see any obstacle that would stop the two leaders from coming together again if they want to help Kenyans.
"Do not criticise the Bill merely because you don’t want President Ruto. The dream of all teachers is to have their children do better than them.
"Even if you see William Ruto standing tall, it should be seen that he is standing on the shoulder of a giant Raila,” he said.
The CS said there was no need for opposition leaders to engage Kenyans in antigovernmental protests when they can get time and agree on how the address problems bedeviling citizens.
Murkomen vowed never to be cowed by demonstrations and fail to implement development projects in areas perceived to be opposition strongholds.
The government promised to complete the tarmacking of roads like Kadel-Alara-Pala-Kanyadhiang in Karachuonyo, Mbita-Sindo-Kiabuya-Sori in Suba South, Namba- Karabok-Adiedo in Karachuonyo and Rangwe and Marindi -Magina-Pala in Ndhiwa.
"I would be happy to see Raila meet President Ruto and discuss issues that can make Kenya progress. Staging antigovernment protests will not solve Kenyans' problems,” Murkomen said.
