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The union said most workers have resorted to trekking to work.
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Andabwa said although the proposed Finance Bill has noble intentions, it was untimely.
Image: HANDOUT
Opposition continues to grow against the government's taxation plans contained in the Finance Bill with private security workers the latest group to reject the proposals.
The National Security Private Workers Union through its secretary general Isaac Andabwa on Monday said life was quickly becoming unbearable for many Kenyans and that the new tax proposals will burden the ordinary mwananchi to death.
The government in its plans to cut down on borrowing and raise more revenue has proposed new tax measures including the introduction of VAT on fuel products.
President William Ruto's administration also wants workers to contribute three per cent of their earnings to the housing levy.
These, Andabwa said, will heap more burden on workers who are already struggling to put food on the table.
He said the government ought to have given wananchi some time to pull through the current economic hardships before introducing more taxes.
"The government ought to have given Kenyans a soft landing because this is not the time to push Kenyans to the edge of a cliff. You cannot milk a cow that is already starving unless you want it to die," Andabwa told the Star on the phone.
He said most Kenyans were suffering as a result of the low wage bill which has rendered most workers unable to afford even the cheap houses in Nairobi.
He said the majority of slum dwellers live in shanties where they are still struggling to raise rent.
"All this is due to the high cost of living which rises every time yet the minimum wage bill remains unchanged," Andabwa said.
The union said most workers have resorted to trekking to work.
Andabwa said although the proposed Finance Bill has noble intentions, it was untimely.
"The President should, first of all, address the issue of prices of food commodity instead of burdening workers with housing levies which are unnecessary for now," he said.
"We are not opposed to the bill but houses are secondary needs and the President should solve the primary needs first," he added.
He asked MPs to reject the bill.
"Kenyans woke up and voted for them to represent them and it will be unfair for the lawmakers to pass the bill for their own good or to please one individual," Andabwa said.