• Nyoro said they have been listening to Kenyans and that they have been undertaking public participation for the last two weeks to collect their views.
• He said as leaders, they are elected to represent Kenyans and that they have to consult them as they make such decisions.
Image: ALICE WAITHERA
The government will ensure views by Kenyans are incorporated into the Finance Bill 2023 before it is adopted by the National Assembly.
Chairperson of the Budget Committee in the National Assembly Ndindi Nyoro has said they have been listening to Kenyans and that they have been undertaking public participation for the last two weeks to collect their views.
He said as leaders, they are elected to represent Kenyans and that they have to consult them as they make such decisions.
"We are not chest thumping because this country belongs to us all. As leaders, we don’t lead ourselves so we have to work with Kenyans and we have been collecting views in our constituencies to understand what Kenyans want," he said.
The Bill that went through its second reading in the national assembly on Thursday has elicited big emotions among a large section of Kenyans who have raised concern over some of its proposals.
But Ndindi emphasised that the Finance Committee led by chairperson Kimani Kuria will do everything possible to ensure Kenyans’ concerns are considered before the Bill is passed.
"We may have aspirations of the things we want to achieve as leaders but we also have to listen to Kenyans and we respect their views because we know they will make the bill even better," he said.
Image: lice Wither
The Finance Bill proposes an array of taxes including the three per cent mandatory monthly deduction for housing scheme from salaried Kenyans, 16 per cent fuel levy and 15 per cent tax on digital content creators.
The Bill has put leaders allied to the government at crossroads as their voters call for them to reject it.
But even as Kenyans focus on the Bill, Nyoro said it’s important for them to understand how the funds raised will be utilised.
He said the government plans to read a budget worth Sh3.679 trillion out of which Sh2.57 trillion will be derived from taxes.
Another Sh347 billion will be collected by public bodies that are permitted by Treasury to appropriate against expenditure approved by Parliament.
Grants will constitute Sh42 billion meaning the budget will have a Sh718 billion deficit.
National government’s share will be Sh2.3 trillion while Sh385 billion will go to the counties and Sh986 billion to the Consolidated Fund.
Nyoro said 30 per cent of the national government’s share will be allocated to education and will see capitation for Junior secondary schools get an extra Sh10 billion to cater for the new cohort of learners who will join in January next year.
The allocation for Higher Education Loans Board will be doubled from Sh15 billion to Sh30 billion to reduce parents’ burden of paying fees.
"The foundation of any nation is its people and the only way to optimise their productivity is to ensure they are well educated," the MP said.
Funds will also be provided to employ 20,000 extra teachers and more Technical and Vocational education trainers.
About Sh247 billion will go towards roads with ongoing projects being given priority, the lawmaker said.
He further said that 181 markets started during former President Mwai Kibaki’s era will be completed at a cost of Sh3 billion.
To reduce the cost of living, Nyoro said the government will continue committing more funds towards fertilisers and other inputs that will help reduce the cost of production while increasing farmers’ output.
The MP said the budget has drastically reduced funds raised from loans and has improved fiscal deficit from 8.2 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product to 4.4 percent.
"I want to assure Kenyans that President William Ruto is a highly consultative leader who listens to everyone," he said.