Owning a house is not priority for most Kenyans - Activists

By Peter Ochieng

Human rights defenders are urging MPs to shoot down the Finance Bill, 2023 when it is tabled in the National Assembly on Thursday.

The activists under the Western Social Justice Center Working Group say sailing of the bill in the August House will, erode the country's economic gains.

Addressing members of the press at a Kisumu hotel on Thursday, they said some of the proposals in the bill, such as a 3% housing levy and increase of VAT on petroleum products will push prices of commodities to unamanagable costs.

"Owning a house is not a priority for most Kenyans. Education, food and healthcare are the priorities that the government must improve," said Akumu Ouko, who read a statement on behalf of her collegues.

She said the bill must be recalled for Kenyans to deliberate on it, through public participation forums.

"That the finance bill 2023 be recalled in it's entirety and commence citizen led processes that will develop progressive taxation measures."

She added, "That Kenya be governed by the aspirations of the 2010 constitution that dictates public participation in public affairs and the supremacy of the constitution must be adhered to in leadership."

According to the human rights defenders, the bill which has been fronted by President William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza administration, seeks to please financiers of Kenya, by "demonstrating the capacity to tax Kenyans."

They vowed to take to the streets for peaceful protests, if the bill is passed by MPs.

The bill seeks to expand the country's tax base to finance the proposed Sh3.6 trillion 2023/2024 budget.