Eddie Butita, a comedian and scriptwriter, found himself in a tough spot recently as he seemed undecided on the contentious Finance Bill and the planned protests surrounding it.
While many Kenyans, including celebrities and politicians, took strong stances against the Bill and expressed support for the ‘Occupy Parliament’ protests, Butita’s attempts to weigh in did not garner much support.
Initially, Butita shared his thoughts on the Bill, mentioning that he had raised some concerns about it and expressing confidence that action would be taken.
“As a responsible citizen, I have raised some issues on the Finance bill, especially touching on the creative economy,” he wrote.
“I have engaged both formally and informally and I am confident action will be taken. That said creatives are not opposed to paying taxes, we are just asking for a harmonized approach.”
Many who interacted with the sentiments pointed out how politically-correct and equivocal it sounded. Others also criticised him for the ambiguity, pressuring him to clearly state his stand and denounce the Bill as everyone else was doing.
X personality Wesley Kibande simply asked him, “So, Yes or No?”
Someone else said, “Have a stand! It’s either a Yes or No. Kizungu mingi peleka Busia!”
As the pressure mounted, comedian Eddie Butita found himself facing criticism for seeming indecisive on the contentious Finance Bill and the planned protests.
Despite attempts to clarify his stance, his tweets only fueled further criticism. In one tweet, he mentioned “Article 37,” which led to more questions about why he didn’t elaborate on its contents.
Fans accused him of being influenced by promises or compromises, rather than taking a clear stand.
Similarly, DJ Joe Mfalme faced resistance after tweeting in support of rejecting the Finance Bill, with fans questioning his commitment. Andrew Kibe also faced backlash after appearing to show support for the Finance Bill during a debate he hosted.
The pressure for public figures to take a clear stance on the issue continued to grow online.
