Azimio Leader Raila Odinga on Thursday, June 8, asked President William Ruto to drop the Finance Bill and offered him ten solutions he believed would lower the cost of living countrywide.
Addressing the press during the Azimio Economic Council forum, the opposition leader advised Ruto to stop duplicating county roles and responsibilities.
“In the proposed Bill, the budget for health is growing by Sh35 billion at the national level, yet health is a devolved function,” he said.
Raila further challenged the President to adopt a zero-based budgeting formula without reference to any other budgets his predecessors implemented during their eras.
“Ruto should adopt a zero-based budgeting and not take the previous budget as his baseline,” he explained.
Raila said that every budget must start at ground zero where everything has to be justified.
The ODM leader stated that Ruto should not grow the size of the budget but rather cut it down and live within the means.
“Instead of imposing new taxes, seal the loopholes that lead to loss of revenue,” he said.
Raila added that the President should stop non-essential government expenditures including the appointment of Chief Administrative Secretaries.
He wants Ruto to reduce the size of the government and cut non-essential Domestic and international travel.
The Opposition boss said Ruto should freeze ministerial out-of-station allowances, ministerial house allowances and domestic allowances for cabinet and principal secretaries.
“Freeze ministerial out-of-station, house and domestic allowances for Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries,” he advised while asking Ruto to tighten the fight against corruption and theft of public resources.
“We ask Ruto to humble himself, withdraw this Bill, offer an apology and seek forgiveness from Kenyans for the anxiety caused, then begin afresh,” Raila concluded.
