Luanda Member of Parliament Dick Maungu has said Members of the National Assembly have got the power to shoot down the Finance Bill 2024 or pass it with amendments to protect the interest of their voters at large.
Maungu said there is an urgent need for lawmakers to make amendments to the Finance Bill to protect Kenyans from what he termed as punitive taxes.
"The 2023/24 Finance Bill has been so painful to our people but this of 2024 /2025 is worse than that that is why I am calling for amendment to some of the taxes," Maungu said.
Among the taxes include those on motor vehicles, food, pads, and diapers among others.
Maungu was speaking during the funeral service of the late Zadock Okaya at Kima Mission on Saturday.
Maungu said the elected leaders are failing the very Kenyans who overwhelmingly elected them in the last general elections.
He said the elected leaders are failing to make laws that are of great benefit to citizens.
"Vehicles taxes should be imposed on MPs, Senators, governors, Cabinet Secretaries and other state officials and leave the public vehicles," he said.
The lawmaker alleged that some of the elected leaders passed the previous bill for their financial gains.
"Some even had to cross the floor to vote when they well knew the harm that was being imposed on ordinary Kenyans," Maungu said.
His words were echoed by Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi.
"Finance Bill is in the National Assembly, I am going to monitor those who are going to make our lives more harder by voting yes and we shall teach them a lesson come 2027 General Elections," Osotsi said.
He urged legislators to make amendments to that bill to protect Kenyans.
