The Azimio Parliamentary Group unanimously rejected the Finance Bill 2023 on Tuesday, May 30.
Addressing the media on Tuesday, Ugunja MP and Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi demanded that the Kenya Kwanza government withdraw the bill for review.
Wandayi explained that the Finance Bill, which proposed a raft of tax measures, does not resonate with Kenyans.
“We oppose the burden being imposed on working people through reckless measures like house levy, income tax and taxes on per diem. We oppose increased taxes on start-ups and small businesses. We oppose increasing taxes on fuel which will raise the cost of the product by at least Ksh10.
“Azimio is of the view that this Finance Bill takes us back to the 1980s. It takes us back to the era of cost-sharing in public institutions. It takes us back to the era of Structural Adjustment Programs. It takes us back to the 1980s because the people who were in charge back then, are in charge today,” read part of the statement.
According to the Azimio PG, the Kenya Kwanza government wanted to take billions from Kenya’s poorest people while expecting the opposition to cheer.
“We take the position that the budget proposals offer completely no support for working people and upcoming businesses, for the taxes being levied, people are getting nothing in return,” Azimio confirmed.
The opposition legislators expressed concern over the misuse of funds and the misuse of public resources by President William Ruto’s administration.
