Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Thursday asked Azimio la Umoja leaders to stop misleading the public on the provisions of the Finance Bill 2023.
Speaking in Nyeri County during the burial of Mary Muthoni on Thursday, Gachagua said the Opposition is sharing wrong information on the bill, especially the Housing Fund levy.
He said the proposed three per cent deduction on the Housing Fund will only apply to those who are employed.
Gachagua added that the Azimio politicians are using the bill to gain political mileage in their claims that the affordable housing fund is mandatory for all Kenyans.
"The Housing Fund is for the employed and it is aimed at creating jobs for the youth," he said.
The DP dismissed claims that the Finance Bill will burden Kenyans and raise the cost of living.
He said the bill, which is before Parliament, has many good measures to ease the cost of living if Parliament adopts it.
Gachagua noted that for instance Value Added Tax on Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) has been slashed.
"The prices of the cooking gas will fall and the income for coffee will increase. Opposition leaders are lying to the public," the DP said.
President William Ruto's administration has asked MPs through the Finance Bill 2023 to exempt cooking gas from the eight per cent VAT.
He said cheap gas will also reduce reliance on charcoal and firewood.
Azimio leader Raila Odinga on Thursday told President William Ruto to withdraw the Finance Bill 2023 because Kenyans will suffer if it passes.
Raila said Ruto should stop burdening Kenyans and instead focus on lowering the cost of living.
"Kenyans are hurting. They are suffering. They came to power through the backdoor when they were not ready to govern and now want to pour their inefficiency on poor Kenyans," Raila said.
