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Small scale traders have warned that their businesses risk closure should the Finance Bill 2023 pass without critical alteration.

The operators who included operators of barbershops, Mpesa shops, boda bodas, and vegetable sellers popularly referred to as ‘Mama Mbogas’ highlighted the challenges they face every day and how the changes will hit them.

They said the proposed tax measures will restrict their capital flow, reduce their profit margins and possibly drive them out of business.

Speaking at the inaugural Martha Karua Foundation symposium, dubbed a ”Wanjiku Symposium on the proposed 2023 Finance Bill,” the traders further raised concerns on the trustworthiness of the State in managing the collected tax monies, urging authorities to focus on stopping wastage and corruption first.

According to Wycliffe Igoha a boda boda owner, the government needs to reduce prices on basic commodities especially sifted maize and sugar to make life bearable, while Assumpta Muiruri, an operator of an Mpesa shop urged the government to scrap the positions of Cabinet Administrative Secretaries to save on scarce resources.

“The government should find ways of increasing the tax base without hurting the common Mwananchi. They should also consider reducing wastage of resources,” Otieno said.

On their parts, Kwame Owino, Institute of Economic Affairs chief executive officer, Diana Gichengo the national Coordinator of TISA Kenya and Martha Karua who was the running mate of Raila Odinga on the Azimio La Umoja One coalition party said the government is using misinformation to polarise Kenyans by framing the tax issue as a “haves vs have nots” tussle.

They emphasized the need for citizens to assert their sovereignty and raise their voices against illegal and discriminatory provisions of the Finance Bill. And that the taxes should reflect the current economic and should not be punitive to the people.

The Symposium closed with a call to action which included urging citizens to send their objections to [email protected] for submission to Parliament, while urging citizens to reach out to their respective members of Parliament not to support the bill.