Boni Khalwale condemned Azimio for politicizing taxation

By Robert Mutasi

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has condemned the opposition leaders for politicizing the taxation proposal in the Finance Bill 2023.

Khalwale said Azimio is using taxation as a tool to deceive Kenyans so as to reject it.

In an interview with KTN News on Tuesday,the Senator slammed the opposition leaders for ignoring the economic benefits of taxation and only seeing the politics of taxation.

"So because our opponents are in the business of helping us to succeed,they have completely refused to see the limb of the economics of taxation and their focus today focused on the politics of taxation,"he said.

He has claimed that the Azimio allies' decision to fight against taxation imposed on Kenyans is signs of misusing the constitution.

Dr Khalwale has defended the bill by stating that the bill is in the public participation so as to get different views from Kenyans.

"Politics of taxation is everywhere in the world including the United States...I am therefore not surprised that this is going on because of the robustness of our constitution,"admitted Senator.

As stated by the law,Khalwale urged that all Kenyans must pay the tax because it is their responsibility.

By taxing people,he said it will not pull down economic prosperity in any way as alleged by opposition allies.

He has further defended President William Ruto for proposing taxing of content creators that they have not been taxing them before.

Moreso,he has mentioned the previous governments did not realise the taxation of digital media especially content creators and that is one way of increasing revenue of the nation.

Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga said he will rally his supporters to oppose the proposed Finance Bill 2023 when it is debated in parliament.

At the same time,Odinga argued that Kenyans are being overtaxed and Kenya Kwanza are to be blamed.

"We will be instructing our members to pause this Bill's proposals," Raila said during a press conference on March 8.

"In the event that Kenya Kwanza uses its hired majority and passes the Bill as it is, we want the people of Kenya to understand that it will be a Kenya Kwanza Bill."