Caleb Amisi warns MPs of grave repercussions if Finance Bill 2024 is passed
By Lutta Njomo, June 20, 2024
Saboti Member of Parliament Caleb Amisi has warned his National Assembly colleagues of grave repercussions if Finance Bill 2024 is passed.
Speaking outside the Parliament precincts on Thursday, June 20, 2024, Amisi indicated that a majority of the people have boldly expressed their dissatisfaction with the budget financing measures contained in the Bill.
Amisi highlighted that most of the people opposed to the Bill argue that if passed it will exacerbate the already high cost of living.
While pleading with fellow lawmakers to consider the views of the people, Amisi warned that failure to listen to the people would give rise to a rebellion.
According to Amisi, the uprising will be followed by a massive detestation against the MPs who approved the Finance Bill 2024.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg the real protest will be after some MPs vote yes, and you will see from their constituencies, they will be chased away,” Amisi affirmed.
Defending his warning
While justifying his warning to legislators, Caleb Amisi made it clear that the ongoing nationwide protests have been organised by Generation Z (Gen Z) without any political affiliation.
He further detailed that most of them are well-educated and have a deep understanding of many revenue measures contained in the Finance Bill 2024.
Amisi thus pleaded with his colleagues to give dialogue a chance to prevent the country from sliding into a series of mass protests.
Caleb Amisi: This is just the tip of the iceberg the real protest will be after some MPs vote YES, and you will see from their constituencies, they will be chased away.#FinanceBill2024#K24Siasa pic.twitter.com/ouqBcGPf4X
— K24 TV (@K24Tv) June 20, 2024
MPs debate
The MPs are currently debating on the Finance Bill 2024 which was tabled in parliament on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. Before tabling the Bill, the National Assembly Finance Committee chair Kimani Kuria revealed key proposed amendments.
Significant amendments to the Finance Bill include the removal of the proposed 16 per cent VAT on bread, transportation of sugar, financial services, and foreign exchange transactions, as well as the 2.5 per cent Motor Vehicle Tax.
There will be no increase in mobile money transfer fees, and the excise duty on vegetable oil, Kuria stated.
Speaking during the Kenya Kwanza Parliamentary Group Meeting, President William Ruto said the changes to the Finance Bill 2024 have considered the people’s and other stakeholders’ views during public participation sessions.
The President commended Kenyans for their contributions through public participation.
“We are going to end up with a product in Parliament that came from the Executive and has been interrogated by the Legislature. Through public participation, the people of Kenya have had a say,” he said.
However, Kenyans have taken to the protests calling on MPs to reject the entire Finance Bill 2024.
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