Viral Video Of Karen Nyamu's Response To Backlash On Finance Bill 2024

Nyamu was compelled by reporters to give her thoughts on the controversial Bill in a video that went viral on social media platforms.

Viral Tea Ke Writer Viral Tea Ke Writer
May 28, 2024 - 21:18 Updated: May 28, 2024 - 22:07
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Viral Video Of Karen Nyamu's Response To Backlash On Finance Bill 2024
Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu speaking during a retreat to receive and consider submissions on the IEBC (Amendment) Bill, 2024 (National Assembly Bills No. 10 of 2024) on May 25, 2024. /KAREN NYAMU

Nominated Senator, Karen Nyamu on Tuesday, May 28 sparked mixed reactions after struggling to explain the contents of proposals contained in the Finance Bill 2024.

Nyamu was compelled by reporters to give her thoughts on the controversial Bill in a video that went viral on social media platforms.

The nominated United Democratic Alliance (UDA) senator appeared to give a messed-up defence of the Bill and President William Ruto's administration's tax proposals and claimed that the Senate did not have the responsibility to debate the punitive proposals.

"First of all, the Finance Bill is discussed in the National Assembly, not in the Senate. But what I know about the Kenya Kwanza administration, what we promised people on the ground is that the economy will be bottom up," she said.

Nyamu went on to claim that the tax proposals were targeting well-off Kenyans while giving relief to ordinary citizens who may not be able to afford to live on a dollar a day.

"You might be crying that Ruto is imposing a lot of taxes on us, and at the same time, he has abolished the tax for the lower income people and at the same time raised the taxes on those importing beds," she argued.

"What are you complaining about yet it is something that does not concern you? Find out what this Finance Bill says, is there a tax policy that has increased? Does it concern you?"

Further throwing everyone off, Nyamu went on to suggest that the Bill's contentions were the creations of the opposition and not necessarily based on facts.

"Leave social media alone. We have opposition politics and they must stay opposing the government. So what if they made sense, they are spreading propaganda and they must oppose the government, and we are the ones who pay attention to them," she claimed.

Her sentiments led to Kenyan netizens slamming her for appearing to lack knowledge on such a critical matter in the country despite being a legislator in Parliament with the ability to amend laws that do not satisfy the interests of the constituents.

The Finance Bill 2024 was published on May 9, 2024, with some of the proposals contained in the bill, like for instance the proposal to impose a 16 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on bread termed unrealistic by Kenyans.

Another proposal involves the introduction of a Motor Vehicle Tax, pegged at 2.5 per cent of the value of the vehicle and shall not be less than Ksh5,000 and shall not be more than Ksh100,000, with other factors coming into play including the make, model, engine capacity and year of manufacture.

Public participation on the Bill took place with the deadline to make submissions which was set for May 28, 2024, already passed.

The National Assembly had opened the forum for the public to share their views concerning the bill sponsored by Molo Member of Parliament (MP) Kuria Kimani which contains proposals relating to revenue-raising measures

Photo of the National Treasury buildings. /NATIONAL TREASURY