Yes Or No? Heated Debate As Finance Bill Is Tabled In Parliament

Fierce debate rocked the floor of the National Assembly on Wednesday after the Finance Bill 2023 was tabled. 

With the contentious housing levy exuding prominence in the floor of the house, Members of Parliament from Kenya Kwanza were in support of the bill by President William Ruto’s administration, as their Azimio counterparts challenged government’s agenda. 

Taking to the floor, Finance Committee and Molo MP Kuria Kimani defended the bill, saying the 1.5% proposed housing levy is in order. 

Kimani said the levy had been reduced from 3 to 1.5% to prevent discrimination against low income earners. 

“We have incentivized manufacturers of electric motor vehicles, electric motorcycles, electric boda boda cycles so that in the long run we grow our manufacturing of electric buses, electric vehicles and not just that, we have zero rated also their charging system their charging units and we look forward just like countries like the USA and UK,” the Molo legislator said. 

In a sharp criticism of the bill, Migori Woman Representative Fatuma Mohammed faulted Kenya Kwanza for not considering public opinions on the 1.5% housing levy. She said the Finance Bill did not undergo proper public participation.

“The committee has reported that they went round and the people of Kenya suggested that they bring it to 1.5 the housing levy, they are not being sincere unless they were doing this out of Kenya but not in Kenya, Kenyans are saying zero they don’t want it they are not interested and are not aware of your 1.5,” Fatuma said. 

The Migori MP further argued that housing is not a priority for majority of Kenyans, who are more concerned with putting food on their tables as they have homes. 

“Stop ‘shakahola-ing’ us we are not interested in your house it will not even come even if we give you 100 per cent levy we know the truth that you don’t keep your promises and you are not going to twist us in this,” Fatuma addressed Kuria Kimani. 

On his part, Nyali MP Mohammed Ali accused MPs opposing the bill of being selfish and uncomfortable with the idea of Kenyans living in decent houses.

“Let us think about Mwananchi, we must sacrifice in order to save Kenyans. Today you oppose this bill because you want popularity politics,” Ali said. 

The MP defended the bill, with an argument that it provides relief for foreign investors by reducing non-resident tax from 37.5 to 30 per cent. This, he said, will enable investment in counties with limited foreign investments as they could supplement vital developmental agendas in those counties.

However, Deputy Minority leader Robert Mbui firmly opposed the bill, rubbishing claims that Kenya is minimally taxed compared to other African nations. 

He argued comparing Kenya and other African countries to be completely circumstantially insignificant.

“The average salary in Tunisia is Ksh.176, 000 a month, the average salary in South Africa is Ksh.187, 000 a month, the average salary in Morocco is Ksh.263, 000 a month. The average salary of a Kenyan is Ksh.22, 000. How do you compare light and day?” Mbui posed.

The Finance Bill 2023, which was amended by the National Assembly Finance and Planning Committee and officially tabled on Tuesday seeks to raise Ksh.311 billion which is Ksh.100 billion higher than the initial bill.

President William Ruto will ascend to the bill if it passes through the heated debate between Azimio and Kenya Kwanza in parliament.