The Azimio la Umoja Coalition now says that President William Ruto’s proposed budget is meant to ensure his allies live large.
According to Azimio principal Martha Karua, this is budgeted in the recently passed Finance Bill, 2023 by the National Assembly. The Bill was passed on Wednesday.
They claimed that it will happen through the provision of subsidies.
“This kind of dictatorship is new! This budget is selfishly tailored to ensure Ruto’s people live large and eat well. They are getting subsidies to import cooking oil, maize, sugar, rice, among other commodities at the expense of vulnerable Kenyans.
“Money for Ruto’s people is hidden in provisions like fertilizer subsidy, National Agricultural and Rural Inclusivity, National Agricultural Value Chain Development, Kenya Cereal Enhancement, Emergency Locust Response and Small Scale Irrigation and Value Addition, among others,” Karua said.
Azimio said what was witnessed with the passing of the Finance Bill is what happens when rogue leaders are in charge.
They said ignoring the wishes of a majority of Kenyans and passing the bill signals the era of dictatorship.
“Yesterday, we saw what happens when a rogue and uncaring head of the Executive, branch of government, decides that the only thing that matters is his ego, his fantasies and his cronies’ agenda.
“We also learnt the hard way that this illegitimate regime can ignore the people, their feelings, their fears, their circumstances, their hopes and aspirations and force its agenda on the people,” she added.
Karua said the country is in a nightmare that will not go away anytime soon.
“The Ruto regime ensured that the wishes of Kenyans were ignored. Instead, he retained punitive taxes on fuel, housing, turnover, mobile money transfer and salaries, among others.” BY THE STAR