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Narok senator Olekina warns of potential govt tactics following Finance Bill 2024 rejection

Monday, July 1st, 2024 13:23 | By
Narok Senator Ledama Olekina. PHOTO/@ledamalekina/X

Narok County Senator Ledama Olekina has warned that the Executive is likely to quietly introduce amendments to achieve their tax objectives and those of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) following the recent rejection of the Finance Bill 2024.

Olekina labelled the government as an institution with a high level of dishonesty, suggesting they are likely to amend the Roads Act, Lands Act, Housing Act, and other legislation.

Olekina's statement

"The dishonesty in this government is on another level! Listen, Kenyans, the finance bill is normally used to amend various legislation. Now that Kenyans have said to reject the Finance Bill 2024, expect the executive to introduce independent amendments quietly to achieve their and IMF objectives of raising taxes!

"Expect the Roads Act to be amended, the Lands Act to be amended, the Housing Act, and many more," Olekina said in a statement on his X account on Monday, July 1, 2024.

Narok Senator Ledama Olekina. PHOTO/@ledamalekina/X.
Narok Senator Ledama Olekina. PHOTO/@ledamalekina/X

President William Ruto, on June 24, 2024, rejected the Finance Bill which had been passed by Members of Parliament.

This was after protests rocked the country, with protestors breaching security and accessing the parliament.

A day later, he signed the Appropriation Bill 2024, citing Articles 221 and 222 of the Constitution that mandate the Assent to the Appropriations Bill by June 30, 2024, annually to ensure seamless government operations, particularly in delivering critical services.

In a roundtable interview on Sunday, June 30, 2024, Ruto painted a picture of the country's future following the rejection of the proposed Finance Bill 2024.

He said Kenya had gone back two years and would need to borrow at least Ksh1.2 trillion this year to keep the government operational.

Dropping Finance Bill

Dropping the Finance Bill means the government will be unable to confirm 46,000 Junior Secondary School teachers on permanent and pensionable contracts - Ruto said.

He stated that without the funds his administration hoped to raise, it would be impossible to assist Kenyan farmers in ensuring they receive at least Ksh50 per litre of milk.

Narok Senator Ledama Olekina. PHOTO/(@Ledama)Facebook
Narok Senator Ledama Olekina. PHOTO/(@Ledama)Facebook

The bill was intended to generate Ksh346 billion ($2.68 billion), or 3% of GDP, in additional revenue. Kenya agreed on a four-year loan with the IMF in 2021 and signed on for additional lending to support climate change measures in May 2023.

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