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The Green Belt Movement has joined the chorus of those opposing the Finance Bill 2024.

The movement, pioneered by the late Wangari Mathai, the former Member of Parliament for Tetu constituency and an assistant minister in the environment docket under Mwai Kibaki, said the bill, set to be tabled in Parliament, is punitive to the economic environment of the country.

“The Green Belt Movement (GBM) vehemently opposes the 2024 Finance Bill that proposes excessive taxation on Kenyans, including a 16% VAT on bread, the introduction of an eco-levy targeting manufacturers and importers of specific goods, and the introduction of VAT on medical services and commodities.

“These measures are not only economically punitive but also counterproductive to the principles of climate justice and environmental conservation that GBM tirelessly advocates for,” the movement initiated by the Nobel Prize winner Mathai, stated.

The movement also cited the adverse effects the bill, if passed, could have on the environment.

“The Green Belt Movement has always championed intertwined causes of environmental protection and good governance as precursors to economic and social development. Our founder,  Wangari Maathai, articulated this vision by linking the health of our environment with the well-being of our communities.

“She famously said, ‘In the course of history, there comes a time when humanity is called to shift to a new level of consciousness… a time when we have to shed our fear and give hope to each other. That time is now.’ Wangari Maathai’s voice resonates with the call for policies that do not exacerbate the plight of the poor but instead uplift them while protecting our natural heritage,” the statement added.

Impact on debt

The movement further argued that the bill is not sustainable given Kenya’s current foreign debt.

“Kenya is grappling with a burgeoning debt crisis, with the national debt reaching unprecedented levels. The 2024 Finance Bill, if passed, will likely involve increased borrowing to cover the budget deficit.

“This additional debt burden is unsustainable and threatens to plunge the country deeper into a financial abyss. More borrowing without clear and effective strategies for repayment compromises our nation’s economic stability and risks mortgaging the future of our children and generations to come. There is also a glaring lack of transparency and accountability,” it added.

The bill is expected to be a matter of showdown between the Kenya Kwanza MPs, whom most have voiced support, and the opposition, who have been told by their political party leaders to reject it.

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