The meeting of the Kenya Kwanza Parliamentary Group scheduled for Monday, June 10 at the State House, Naieobi has been postponed.
President William Ruto was scheduled to chair the meeting aimed at deliberating on the Finance Bill 2024 and the position lawmakers should take in the governing coalition.
Senate Majority Leader and Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot revealed that the meeting was called off and rescheduled for a later date (June 17) following a request from the MPs.
He said lawmakers had requested more time for the National Assembly Finance and Planning Committee to take more views from taxpayers and other stakeholders.
“A PG would take place on Monday. But it was postponed after MPs requested more time to complete the report after meeting stakeholders on the bill,” Cheruiyot said.
The senator, however, dismissed the belief that the delay was due to perceived tension in the ruling coalition, which has seen divisions of late.
The Finance Bill 2024 is yet to be tabled in the National Assembly for its first reading as it goes through the legislative process.
Kenyans have poked holes in the tax proposals there, arguing that it will damage their economic well-being.
Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga criticized the bill, saying the country will become worse if it is not revised.
In a statement on Friday, June 8, Raila said the country’s tax burden is at its highest level since independence, but public services have remained largely on their knees.
The former Prime Minister pointed out that the Finance Bill 2024 does not comply with the tax dictums of predictability, simplicity, transparency, equality, administrative convenience and fairness.
He called the bill a regressive tax that will hit low-income people with taxes on more fronts than high-income people.
“It is worse than 2023, an investment killer and a huge millstone around the necks of millions of poor Kenyans who must have hoped that the tears they shed over taxes last year would make the government reduce the tax burden in 2024, ” read the statement in part.
The opposition leader also highlighted the proposed taxes on bread and edible oil, saying this would lead to food costs rising.
