The Deputy Minority Leader of Kenya’s national assembly, Robert Mbui has described the Finance Bill 2023 as a vicious attempt to turn Kenyans into paupers.
Speaking on Monday, Mbui said the new Bill is rather expensive.
“In the many years that I have been in Parliament I have never seen such a vicious attempt to turn Kenyans into paupers,” Mbui said.
He said the Bill, coming just a few months after the general elections, is shocking considering the many promises on lowering the cost of living and taxes were made to Kenyans during the campaign season.
Mbui said the new Bill is ridiculous and urged Kenyans to write a memorandum to the clerk to make the government aware of how the new bill will affect them.
He also said the 3 per cent deduction proposed to go towards the Housing Fund is unfair.
“When it comes to issues of purchase of houses, it is very personal but according to the way this is being set up, it is like everyone is going to contribute. In my opinion, it’s like a ponzi scheme where a million people contribute but only about 20,000 people benefit,” he said.
” I would be very surprised to see any Member of Parliament standing on the floor to support this kind of Bill,” Mbui said.
He opined that the Finance Bill 2023 must be amended almost on every page to relieve Kenyans of financial burdens.
“This is something we need to address as a country and we need to advice the government that there must be other ways,” he said.
Mbui said it is the wrong time for such a Bill to be presented while the nation is still grappling with high food prices and high cost of living.
