Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura has called out the organisers of 'Where’s Crazy Nairobian’ X space for not allowing them to respond to some of the issues raised.
While the daylong X space called for the release of blogger Billy Simani alias Crazy Nairobian, it was also a platform for Kenyans to raise concerns on the contentious Finance Bill, 2024.
According to Mwaura, while the organisers had good intentions, they should have given the government side a chance to speak.
He insisted that the Kenya Kwanza government is fully committed to accountability, but all state officials present in the Space were not allowed to speak.
“We are listening, that’s why I was there for five hours. There were other people who were there, Aaron Cheruiyot and others. We were there we listened even though we were not given a chance to speak and I don’t want to attribute improper motives on those who were organizing.
“How do you organize a forum and then you don’t want to speak to the others hata kama ni kukasirika. Kuna vile lazima uskize (even if it is anger, you have to listen to the other side) the other side of the story so that you are informed,” the Government spokesman said.
Mwaura in a statement at midnight, on Saturday, said there was a lot of misinformation on the space.
He said this is why it would have been important for the government officials to be given a chance to speak.
“There was a lot of lying in that debate to be very sincere. I listened to a lot of lies and disinformation and misinformation because some of the taxes that brought tension in the country we listened as government and removed them.
“For instance, the 16 per cent VAT on bread which would have increased the price by at least Sh10 is not there and it’s because we understand that bread is a daily food.”
Mwaura added that increasing mobile money transfer fees by 5 per cent proposal was also dropped as he explained that the eco-levy is to support local manufacturing.
He said the motor vehicle tax and VAT of cooking oil have also been dropped from the bill.