The contentious Finance Bill 2023 has been passed by majority of Members of Parliament and now awaits determination by the Committee of the whole House.
This comes even as Azimio One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga threatened to mobilise Kenyans to mass action if the controversial Bill is passed in the Third Reading and assented to by president William Ruto to become law.
During the voting characterised by heated debate on the floor of the House yesterday, out of 257 members, a total 176 MPs voted in favour of the Bill while 81 opposed effectively passing it during the Second Reading session.
President Ruto has been vehemently drumming up support for the Bill saying it is good for the country’s budgetary planning.
The 2023/2024 budget estimates to be tabled in Parliament next Thursday is projected to hit a Sh4trillion mark.
The Bill proposes a housing levy on workers’ salaries and increased taxation on fuel, alcohol and beauty products, among other taxes.
The Bill now moves to the Committee of the whole House where members will have a chance to push through their amendments, consider the Bill clause by clause and take a vote on each of the clauses.
Azimio leader has consistently put his lieutenants on notice to shoot down the Bill which he has termed oppressive and insensitive to the plight of poor Kenyans.
On Tuesday this week, the National Assembly’s Finance and National Planning Committee tabled the amended Finance Bill, 2023 after the public gave its views on the document.
The committee chaired by Molo MP Kimani Kuria resolved to retain the 16 per cent VAT on petroleum products expected to bring tax on petrol to the same level as kerosene and diesel.
Among key amendments to the bill is the proposed 15 per cent for Digital Content Creators which has been reviewed to 5 per cent and the proposed three per cent housing levy reduced to 1.5 per cent in the new amendments.
