On Tuesday, Kenyans voiced their continued dissatisfaction with the government, even after several levies proposed in the 2024 Finance Bill were scrapped.
The National Assembly Finance Committee Chairperson, Kuria Kimani, announced in a press conference that the government had decided to drop several contentious proposals from the bill following public pressure.
These included the planned 16 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) on bread, financial services, and foreign exchange transactions. Additionally, the proposed motor vehicle tax, excise duty on vegetable oil, and the Eco Levy on locally-made goods were also scrapped.
The excise duty on eggs, onions, and potatoes was retained only for imported products, exempting local produce.
Despite these changes, many Kenyans remained dissatisfied, arguing that controversial elements still persisted in the bill.
A significant point of contention was the proposed amendment to the Data Protection Act, which would give the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) unrestrained access to taxpayers’ personal data.
Many citizens called for the entire bill to be discarded, expressing concern that the remaining proposals would still negatively impact their lives.
“VAT on cancer treatment still remains, Land rates taxes still remain. Data Privacy is still a big question. The Bill should be rejected in its entirety,” X user @Godwin_Murithi said.
Others termed the changes as just the government’s window-dressing efforts at the bill.
“Let’s not be hoodwinked. It’s not over till it’s over,” said @Douglasorangi.
As demonstrations against the 2024 Finance Bill kicked off in Nairobi’s city centre, the government announced changes to the bill.
The protests, dubbed ‘Occupy Parliament,’ aimed to pressure lawmakers to reject the bill before its scheduled tabling later in the afternoon. Demonstrators marched through Nairobi’s central business district carrying placards urging President William Ruto’s administration to reconsider its tax proposals.
The police responded by arresting several protesters and using tear gas to disperse the crowds.
Despite the government’s decision to scrap several contentious levies, including the 16 percent VAT on bread, financial services, and foreign exchange transactions, as well as other proposed taxes, public dissatisfaction remained high.
Members of Parliament are set to debate the bill on Wednesday and Thursday, with many Kenyans closely watching the proceedings and advocating for the bill to be entirely discarded due to remaining controversial proposals.
“Ruto must go!” protesters chant as MPs arrive in Parliament for the tabling of Finance Bill pic.twitter.com/UCZXmtOI0e
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) June 18, 2024
