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Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula has urged National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula to be impartial when ruling on the Finance Bill, 2023.
The bill is set to be tabled on the floor of the House for second reading this coming week.
Savula made the remarks during a fundraiser at Lwandeti DEB Lugari Sub-County on Saturday.
He asked Wetang’ula to advise President William Ruto about the Bill which he termed untimely, considering the current economic situation in the country.
The DG called on Ruto to listen to the pleas of citizens, stating that the Bill has to be amended before being tabled in Parliament for the second reading.
MPs are expected to debate the Bill amid rising rejection across the political divide.
The bill intends to increase Value Added Tax on fuel from 8 per cent to 16 per cent, a move that has been criticized by civil societies and trade unionists.
They argued that the already unbearable cost of living will worsen if it is assented to by the President.
Ruto’s Finance Bill, 2023 has continued to receive backlash from MPs even after he insisted the Bill is good for the country’s economy.
In the Finance Bill, the Housing Fund proposes a three per cent mandatory levy from employees.
The Bill also wants to impose a 15 per cent tax on creative content.
There is also a proposed 10 per cent Excise Duty on fish imports.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga said they will regroup and overrun Ruto if he imposes the Bill on Kenyans.
He said the Opposition will not allow Ruto’s threats to undermine Kenya’s democracy. BY THE STAR