‘Ongeza ushuru kwa makalio bandia’ – Kimilili MP Barasa advises Ruto on what to tax

Kimilili Member of Parliament Didmus Barasa has advised President William Ruto on what to tax through the 2024 Finance Bill.

During a public meeting attended by Ruto in Kimilili on Sunday, June 2, 2024, the legislator said his constituents are okay with the provisions in the controversial bill but laid down what he wants to be taxed instead.

“Wananchi hawa wamenipatia maneno matatu, wameniambia ya kwamba serikali ya Kenya inahitaji pesa ndio iendelee kuendesha miradi yao.

“Na wamenipatia mimi command ya kuunga mkono na kupitisha lakini tufanye mambo matatu. Wanasema, ulimwengu kote watu matajiri ndio wanatoshwa ushuru ndio wale pia wako chini wafaidike na wao.

“Sisi tunataka mheshimiwa Rais uongeze ushuru kama kuna mtu anafaa nguo ya elfu kumi na zaidi, ongeza ushuru. Kuna watu wengine hawa wa makalio bandia wasichana wa Nairobi wanavaa, ongeza bei ya hio makalio ya bandia,” Barasa said.

The MP also asked Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki to rejig qualifications into the Inua Jamii cash transfer programme in order to cover a wider population.

“Halafu pia mambo matatu ufanye, hii pesa tunapatia wazee wa miaka sitini na kuenda juu, Waziri wa Interior (Kithure Kindiki) ufanye marekebisho ya qualification ndio isikuwe kupata pesa ya wazee ni miaka sitini na kuenda juu pekee.

“Kuna wengine wanakaa kama wako na miaka 40, lakini wako na miaka 70 anafaa kutolewa kwa hio programme. Wengine wako na miaka 45 ama 50 lakini vile anakaa ni kama wa 70. Hao waingizwe kwa ile programme wapate pesa ya serikali,” Barasa added.

Barasa on money for women

The UDA-affiliated MP also urged the president to introduce another cash transfer programme for women in need.

“Saa ile umeunda uchumi na imekuwa sawasawa, mheshimiwa rais, ukumbuke hawa wamama wetu. Wale wamama wametuzaa na wanaendesha uchumi ya kijijini, uweke funds ya kushughulikia wajane.

“Wapate pesa kama ya wazee ambae wewe umeweka kwa serikali yetu ya Kenya.

“Si wale tu wazee walikufa, kuna wengine wazee wako lakini wako mteja, hawapatikani kwa nyumba.Pia hawa watambulike wawekwe kwa programme, wapate pesa ya serikali wasonge mbele,” he continued.

The president is in the Western region after leading the country in marking its 61st Madaraka Day celebration at Masinde Muliro Stadium in Kanduyi, Bungoma County, on Saturday, June 1, 2024.