• Makau said Kenyans were already overburdened with high cost of living and therefore the Bill was untimely.
• The legislator who doubles as a commissioner in the Parliamentary Service Commission told Kenyans not to be cheated.
Image: GEORGE OWITI
Mavoko MP Patrick Makau has urged his colleagues from other constituencies to oppose the proposed Finance Bill, 2023 when tabled in Parliament.
Makau said Kenyans were already overburdened with high cost of living and therefore the Bill was untimely.
"This Finance Bill should be progressive. If economy gets better, we shall accept. But the way it is, we will not accept. So, it’s a law that I as your representative in Parliament will oppose knowing that you are already suffered a lot,” Makau said.
He addressed faithful at AIC Kasina in Mlolongo, Machakos County on Sunday.
The legislator who doubles as a Commissioner in the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) told Kenyans not to be cheated.
"I know you have come from different parts of the country. Tell your MPs that the day Finance Bill, 2023 will come to Parliament, all of us let’s shoot it down as legislators. Sisi sote wakenya tuseme hi haiwezekani kwa wakati huu (Let us all as Kenyans say this cannot be implemented now,” Makau said.
He criticised the government’s intention to impose three per cent on Kenyans’ salaries for the affordable housing programme.
"The three per cent that you are being told means that you will be taxed so as to be bought for a house by the government. Will you buy a house if you haven’t eaten anything? This is supposed to be voluntary, you can’t force a Kenyan to pay Sh3,000,” Makau said.
"Assume you earn Sh100,000 monthly as net salary, remove three per cent, that’s Sh3,000 per month, in twelve months, it’s Sh36,000. That totals to Sh360,000 in ten years, Sh720,000 in 20 years. There is no house worth Sh720,000,” Makau said.
"Ask yourselves where this money will go. We are telling them, show us why it’s not going to the consolidated fund. Tupewe the legal framework hi pesa ikiokotwa itakua inaenda wapi (Let us be given the legal framework for us to know where this money will be going,” Makau said.
The legislator enlightened the faithful on the bill’s content.
"What’s in the Finance Bill of 2023? If you look into the Bill, and I’m speaking with authority in finance. The bill says that if you get involved in an accident and get compensated, the government takes 16 per cent as tax. If you are paid Sh1 million for instance, government goes with Sh160,000, you are given Sh840,000.
"The bill further imposes 20 per cent on internet and telephone use. If you make a call, 20 per cent will be charged on your airtime, 20 per cent will apply when you buy a phone, 20 per cent will apply when you connect on Telecom Kenya.
"There is a eight per cent increase in fuel levy. That means petroleum will be charged 16 per cent, that’s 100 per cent increase in petroleum tax. What doesn’t it mean? That products of petrol, paraffin and diesel will go up by 16 per cent thereby increasing the cost of doing business,” Makau explained.
The MP also said cutting funding for students in private universities was dangerous to the country’s education sector.
He said majority of learners who depend on bursaries for their education were suffering since constituencies were yet to receive funds from Treasury.
"Each constituency has received Sh47 million, Sh100 million is yet to be released to the constituencies. It’s now nearing June, meaning the 2022/2023 Financial Year is ending. Pray we get NGCDF so that children can go to school and we construct classrooms,” Makau said.