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Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua says the Mount Kenya region stands to reap big from the proposals in the Finance Bill 2023.

Speaking during a Farmers Field Day in Githunguri, Kiambu County on Saturday, June 17, 2023, the country’s second in command said the government has allocated a substantial amount of money to complete stalled development projects in the region.

“If there is a region that has been considered in the Finance Bill it’s Mount Kenya. To start with, barabara zetu zoe za Mau mau zilisimama kwa sababu hakuna pesa. Pia Kiambu, Githunguri zilisimama. In this year’s budget we have put Ksh250 billion and now our roads will continue to be built,” he said.

Terming the region as a big beneficiary of the 2023/2024 Budget, Gachagua said farmers from the region would reap big from the government’s move to zero-rate commodities such as animal feeds.

“Here in Mt.Kenya, we are great beneficiaries of the Finance Bill. Matters related to animal feeds have been zero-rated, the price will reduce and farmers will benefit. We have also scrapped VAT on tea and also zero-rated tea packaging,” he added, further thanking lawmakers from the region for overwhelmingly voting in favour of the Finance Bill 2023.

The DP also promised to crush cartels in the coffee and tea sectors to boost farmers’ income.

The Finance Bill 2023 sailed through the Second Reading on Wednesday, after a heated debate in the National Assembly.

Out of the 257 MPs who took part in the voting, 176 MPs voted in favour while 81 opposed the proposed law. No lawmaker abstained from the voting.

The committee of the whole House is scheduled to sit on Tuesday, June 20, for the Third Reading of the Bill.

The lawmakers have until June 30 to pass the Bill, 2023 which should take effect on July 1.