Azimio Warns Ruto Allies Trying To Tamper With NADCO Report

The Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition on Tuesday, March 5 accused National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi and a section of officials in President William Ruto's administration of interference with the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report.

In a press statement, the coalition's Summit, which is its top decision-making organ, claimed that the forces within the Kenya Kwanza regime were dedicated to ensuring that the report was undermined in Parliament before it could sail through.

Azimio warned that should any attempt to undermine or tamper with the report prove successful, it would respond with serious consequences.

President William Ruto was therefore asked to take action against the two speakers of Parliament and a section of members of the National Executive.

“Regrettably, we have also been informed of forces in Kenya Kwanza, in and outside parliament, who are determined to undermine the report. We notify those forces that should any efforts to undermine or tamper with the report succeed, there will be a very heavy price to pay,” stated Azimio.

“In this regard, we call on Hon. William Ruto to rein in the Speakers of the two houses of Parliament and a number of members of the National Executive who are hell-bent on derailing NADCO.”

Neither the two speakers had yet to respond to Azimio's claims by the time of publishing this article.

Azimio nonetheless maintained the view that the report must be implemented as is and that the processing of the NADCO report and the bills should be fast-tracked.

"We also expressed support to the principle of Two-Third gender rule and its inclusion as part of the NADCO report," added the coalition.

The Summit also touched on the state of the economy, maintaining the view that the tax burden being borne by Kenyans is unreasonable and unsustainable and that the Kenya Kwanza regime is failing the test of being caring and compassionate.

"Paying taxes should never be a punishment but a patriotic duty. Under the Kenya Kwanza regime, taxation is a punishment that is hurting the entire economy," the statement added.

Azimio remained opposed to five taxes, including the 16 per cent tax on petroleum products and the housing tax as well as its colonial undertones that make it look like what it termed as the infamous hut tax of the colonial era.

It was also deeply opposed to the high Pay As You Earn (PAYE) rates that Kenyan workers are being forced to endure, as well as the subjection of retiree pensions to taxation.

"We also remain opposed, deeply, to the idea of subjecting farm produce to taxation.

"It is our position that forcing farmers to part with Ksh5 for every Ksh100 they make from their farm produce is unreasonable and cruel. We encourage our farmers to resist this tax," added the statement.