Azimio Appeals To Foreign Powers In Readiness To Oppose Finance Bill 2024
Kalonzo also urged Kenyans in the diaspora to join their fellow citizens in condemning the budget allocations, arguing that they did not put the needs of Kenyans at utmost priority.
Marvin Chege 
Azimio la Umoja on Friday, June 14 reiterated its stance against the Finance Bill 2024 and called upon the international community to stand with Kenyans opposing punitive policies by the Kenya Kwanza administration.
In a media press briefing at the SKM Command Centre in Nairobi, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka hit out at the 2024/25 budget released by Treasury Cabinet Secretary (CS) Njuguna Ndung'u, claiming that it revealed loopholes likely to be exploited by the current administration to steal funds.
In his rallying call, he also urged Kenyans in the diaspora to join their fellow citizens in condemning the budget allocations, arguing that they did not put the needs of Kenyans at utmost priority.
“We urge the international community, civil society organisations and concerned citizens to stand in solidarity with Kenyans in condemning the KK regime’s blatant disregard for the public good,” he pointed out.
Kalonzo Musyoka speaking in Mumbuni, Machakos County on May 2, 2024. /KALONZO MUSYOKA
“We call for quick action to bring those responsible for breach of trust accountable and lobby for a budgetary framework that prioritises the needs and concerns of all Kenyans and not just the privileged few.”
At the same time, Kalonzo predicted that the government was intent on looting an estimated Ksh1 trillion from dubious sections within the budget.
He also raised alarm over a Ksh23.6 billion increase towards recurrent expenditure and questioned why some government offices such as the Treasury would receive an additional Ksh6 billion.
“It is a contention that despite the budget estimates 2024/25, flowery language and complicated figures, it simply does not stimulate economic activity, it does the opposite and seeks to tax every Kenyan Ksh24,000 more such as Housing tax and a very lean payslip,” Kalonzo stated.
“This is a reckless race to the bottom. This is a Ksh23.6 billion increase in recurrent expenditure. This is a budgeted corruption in the name of tea, mandazi and flowers. It is their turn to eat, so they believe.”
On the controversial Finance Bill, the former Vice President directed Azimio Members of Parliament to lead the charge in rejecting the bill in its totality, warning that failure to do so would mean that Kenyans have to tighten their belts even more.
According to Kalonzo, ordinary Kenyans, mama mboga, boda boda riders and the people of mjengo and mkokoteni (handcart) have nothing to gain from the bill because the government is targeting them for the second time with a double taxation plan that aims to increase taxes by approximately Ksh24,000 per adult Kenyan per year.
He also feared that the proposed 2.5 percent Motor Vehicle Tax would raise the cost of car ownership and high insurance rates, which would cause a ripple effect, spreading across transportation and logistics industries, therefore, increasing the cost of living via a multiplayer effect.
The Azimio principal pointed out that the Eco Levy would be detrimental to Kenyans and would see the cost of basic products including bread and cooking oil going up.
“For instance, the Ksh150 levy per kilo of plastic packaging will increase the cost of a 400-gram loaf of bread by Ksh9 from Ksh65 to Ksh74, one litre of cooking oil by Ksh16.81 from Ksh300 to Ksh316.81,” he added.
Further Kalonzo lauded Kenyans who texted and called their MPs to reject the Finance Bill saying the move will eventually become a norm in Kenya.
This is despite some MPs expressing their commitment to passing the Bill in Parliament from Tuesday next week, threats notwithstanding.
“We salute Kenyans who have used text messaging, phone calls, and social media initiatives to urge their legislators to listen to their constituents and vote no. This specific assertiveness and engagement will eventually become the norm,” Kalonzo remarked.
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