A section of Members of Parliament from the Coast region have rejected the Finance Bill, 2024 saying it aims at slowing down the country’s projected economic growth.
While addressing the media at Parliament on Thursday, the legislators termed the Bill punitive.
Likoni MP Mishi Mboko said Kenyans should be given a break from the taxation because it is still a developing country.
“Kenyans are tired with this government. You have done zero implementation on the Finance Act, 2023 and now here you come with a punitive 2024 Finance Bill. You want us to be like Dubai, we are still developing and you need to give us a break, the country is tired,” she said.
Mombasa Woman Representative Zamzam Mohamed on her part claimed that while a removal of taxes was announced, many other taxes were sneaked into the Bill.
The legislator called for the removal of some of the ‘sneaked’ taxes.
She noted that for instance, Radiology and X-ray machines will now be more expensive to purchase.
“Those radiology and X-ray machines will be highly taxed and it is highlighted under Cancer patients on page 592 clause 43 in the Finance Bill. It is sad that the patients will pay highly. We ask for the removal of that section,” Zamzam said.
She added, “Whatever you are doing will get to your generation and it shall hit you more than how it will hit us. The removal of fuel and bread was a strategy to cool the heat, it will not be business as usual.”
The National Assembly has already voted to move the Bill through the Second Reading to the Committee of whole House stage where amendments will be made.
This is despite countrywide protests by Kenyans and especially the youth.
The youth-led protests began on Tuesday under the “Occupy Parliament” tag and on Wednesday, Mombasa residents joined the calls.
On Thursday, however, several parts of the country took to the streets including Kenya Kwanza strongholds.
The protests were in Nairobi, Nakuru, Kericho, Kisumu, Kisii, Nyeri and Nanyuki among others.
