The Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has called for the support in passing the contentious Finance Bill, 2023 to help the country raise its own revenue to fund development and projects.
The DP said the government will not engage in a borrowing spree that will burden Kenyans with unnecessary debts to finance its development projects and recurrent expenditure.
Speaking while presiding over a fundraiser for St Charles Lwanga School in Kitui county yesterday, the DP said the government will focus on raising revenue locally to fund initiatives that will improve citizens’ lives.
He said the country had been pushed to its financial limits by excess debts in the previous regime.
“We pushed the country to the limit. We cannot go that route anymore. When you are in a hole, you cannot keep digging, we must get out of the financial hole we are in.” Gachagua said.
The DP observed that the taxes to build a pool of adequate resources for its recurrent and development expenditure.
“If we don’t collect taxes, we will not be able to roll out the development projects we have lined up across the country.” He added.
He asked leaders from the Ukambani region to rally behind the Finance Bill.
“We have employed more teachers and we will continue building more infrastructure and employing more teachers only if we raise enough taxes.” The DP said.
The Deputy President also asked the Ukambani region leaders to rally behind the Government and reject those leading the people astray through retrogressive politics
The DP also promised a facelift for the institution, terming it a premier school in the region and undertook to buy a bus for the school, following a request by the students.
The DP was accompanied by Cabinet secretaries Ezekiel Machogu (Education) and Peninah Malonza (Tourism), the area Member of Parliament Makali Muli and a number of MPs from the region and elsewhere.
The bill has attracted widespread opposition from professional groups, lobby groups, individuals and the opposition Azimio One Kenya coalition over punitive proposed taxes including the proposed 3 per cent Housing Fund on basic income of all employed Kenyans.
