A group of former Kenya Civil Servants Union officials and members have vowed to go to the streets on July 7 to oppose further deductions on their salaries.
Former union secretary general Isaac Kinity said the government does not have express right to make deductions on workers’ hard-earned cash without their consent or authority.
He said it is against international labour laws to deduct money from workers’ pay in total disregard of cries from civil servants.
Kinity said the government should scrap the Affordable Housing levy and refund all the money that has been deducted so far.
He said the government should have engaged workers' union representatives to get the feeling of the workers before imposing the levy.
His call comes in the advent of public outcry occasioned by tax proposals in the Finance Bill, 2024.
“Despite the government making concessions on some of the new taxes, most people want the taxation rejected in totality to pave way for a bill that is people-centered,” he said.
Kinity said the July 7 protests, popular as Saba Saba, are meant to dissuade the government from increasing deductions on civil servants’ salaries, something they said will hurt workers and their families more.
“The increased taxes has led to the high cost of living which this government had promised to lower. Majority of people are struggling to meet their basic needs such as food and education.”
Kitiny said the KCSU has written to officials of various trade unions in the country in a bid to mobilise members to join the Saba Saba protests.
“What the government has done by imposing mandatory taxes on Kenyans like affordable housing levy is unfair to already over-taxed Kenyans,” he said.
Kinity recalled that in 1997, KCSU successfully challenged deductions from workers’ salaries towards Harambees (fundraising) by the then government as it was found to be against the international labour laws.
He challenged trade union leaders to play their role as workers' representatives to join the protests and fight for their rights.
MPs started debate on the Finance Bill, 2024 on Wednesday with the second round of debate slated for Thursday ahead of voting on Tuesday next week.
This past Tuesday, hundreds of placard-waving protesters, mostly youth, engaged police in running battles as they peacefully protested against the proposed taxes.
A second round of nationwide protests have been planned for Thursday.