• Sifuna said it is time Kenyans normalised calling their members of Parliament to instruct them on how to vote on certain bills.
• He said they have been doing this whenever they need help to settle bills during tragedies like death or when faced with financial burdens to pursue education.
Image: SENATE
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has asked Kenyans to ensure their MPs vote against the proposed amendments in the Finance Bill, 2023.
He warned that if the Bill is passed, it is the ordinary Kenyan who will bear the financial burden that will be brought by increased taxation.
"Don’t let your MP vote for Ruto’s Finance Bill. You will bear the burden of the additional taxes. Call them!" he tweeted on Monday.
Sifuna said it is time Kenyans normalised calling their members of Parliament to instruct them on how to vote on certain bills.
He said they have been doing this whenever they need help to settle bills during tragedies like death or when faced with financial burdens to pursue education.
"It's OK to call your MP over funerals and harambee's. Now you need to normalise calling them with your express instructions on how to vote on specific bills," Sifuna said.
Last week, the National Treasury submitted the Finance Bill, 2023 to the National Assembly for processing ahead of the approval of the 2023/24 budget estimates.
It sets down the revenue measures the government wants to implement in the next financial year, starting July 1.
Among the proposals is the amendment of the Employment Act of 2007, which will require employers to contribute to the National Housing Development Fund for each of their employees.
This will see to a deduction of three per cent of an employee's monthly basic salary towards the affordable housing programme.
Employers will pay three per cent of employees' contribution to the Fund.
However, the total contribution from both the employer and employee will not exceed Sh5,000 per month.
The amendments, if passed, will also increase the VAT on petroleum products from eight per cent to 16 per cent, a change which could trigger a hike in commodity prices amid the soaring cost of living that is burdening Kenyans.
The proposal includes a 15 per cent withholding tax on payments related to the monetisation of digital content.
Further, proposals seek to introduce tax on human hair, eyelashes, switches and artificial nails.
On Monday, the Parliament invited Kenyans to submit their views on the Finance Bill by May 20.