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Anthony Mwangi and Alvin Mwangi

Western region MPs allied to the Jubilee Party are unhappy about the Cabinet changes made by President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday.

They told a press conference at Parliament Buildings that the region had been sidelined even after having voted for the ruling party in the last election.

“After Rashid Echesa was axed, we expected the President to give the region a replacement. It has never happened,” said Majority Whip Benjamin Washiali, in reference to the former Sports Minister who was sacked in March last year.

Washiali was accompanied by Didmus Baraza (Kimilili), John Waluke, (Sirisia, Dan Wanyama, (Webuye West) and Ijendi Malulu (Malava).

The legislators also told off Opposition and other Jubilee leaders who have been calling for the removal of Deputy President William Ruto.

“Let the Opposition know that we in Jubilee will defend the DP to the last man. We campaigned and voted for him,” said Baraza.

They accused ODM of hijacking the Building Bridges Initiative.

Game changer

“ODM is now trying to run away with the BBI. We will fight any attempt to use the report as a campaign tool for 2022,” said Washiali.

Elsewhere, Nyeri senator Ephraim Maina  described Uhuru’s address to the nation from Mombasa as a game changer, that will, among other things, address the woes facing the agriculture sector, particularly in the Mt Kenya region.

“Most of our people depend on agriculture and the focus today was timely and important for us,” Maina said in Nairobi.

In his address, Uhuru announced a raft of measures to improve the welfare of farmers.

He ordered the Agriculture ministry to deal with brokers in the tea sector.

“ KTDA has delivered a lot of value before but recently, it is being faced by conflict of interest by directors which also leads to a lack of clear payments to farmers,” said the President.

He also directed the National Treasury to release Sh3 billion for coffee farmers.

Further, Maina pleaded with Uhuru to ensure his order to bar companies from importing milk is effected.

“We want to see action. Our farmers will not suffer again,” he said.

The Nyeri senator also lauded the appointment of Mutahi Kagwe as Health Cabinet Secretary. 

describing him as a technocrat capable of delivering.

He appealed for a review of the recently launched turnover tax, saying it will hurt Kenyans.

“President Kenyatta should review the taxation and create a situation where even the weak will survive,” he said.

Kenya revenue Authority re-introduced turnover tax requiring small and medium sized businesses to pay a three per cent tax on all their sales.

On November 7, 2019, Uhuru signed the Finance Act 2019, which reintroduced the turnover tax for businesses whose annual sales and income do not exceed Sh5 million in a bid to boost tax collections.