‘We must be bold to include Gen Zs in drafting of future finance bills’ – Oscar Sudi
Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi has heaped praises on Generation Z for their boldness, noting that their approach should be emulated by others days after he castigated them over Finance Bill protests.
In a statement shared on his X account on Saturday, June 22, 2024, Sudi praised the younger generation for being free of tribalistic tendencies and for coming together with a common goal.
The MP also proposed that young people should be involved in the creation of future Finance Bills and policies that impact their lives.
"All of us must appreciate and learn from the young generation (Gen Z). They are tribeless and are united towards one course a better Kenya. Going forward, we must be bold to include their input in drafting of future finance bills and policies affecting them," Sudi stated.
Sudi's comments come after youths from various parts of the country took to the streets to voice their opposition to the Finance Bill 2024.
Sudi criticizes Gen Zs
This follows his recent criticism of the young protesters who participated in the demonstrations on Thursday, June 20, 2024, accusing them of not comprehending the Finance Bill 2024.
Speaking at a funeral service in Kesses Constituency on Friday, June 21, 2024, Sudi remarked that the youth would gain more from the government services that will be realized through the Finance Bill 2024.
"Yesterday, a lot of young people took to the streets. I’m not sure if my children were among the crowd, but their ages ranged from 18 years to around 20 years,” Sudi stated.
He expressed that many people do not fully grasp the Finance Bill, noting that after public input, the Parliamentary Group reviews and amends contentious issues before passing it, as they did on Thursday.
Sudi highlighted that the bill is still under consideration, with Members of Parliament set to review it again on Tuesday, June 25, 2024.
He mentioned that additional amendments could be made before the final vote.
The Kapseret legislator specifically addressed the eco levy on sanitary pads, arguing that the tax on imported pads was intended to foster local manufacturing and employment.
“We don’t know where imported sanitary pad manufacturers get their raw materials. That is why we imposed the tax on imported pads because we can ascertain where local manufacturers get their raw materials,” Sudi explained.
Sudi assured that Members of Parliament would not introduce measures harmful to the public. He also advocated against motorcycle imports, suggesting that assembling motorcycles locally would reduce costs and create jobs.
Sudi criticized protesting college students, pointing out that they would be among the primary beneficiaries of the bill due to the significant allocation for student loans.
“We have allocated Ksh63 billion towards education to reduce the pressure from parents who otherwise cannot afford tertiary education,” Sudi said.
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