President William Ruto has appealed to MPs to support his ambitious Sh4.2 trillion budget for the 2024/2025 financial year when it goes to Parliament.
Speaking in Wote, Makueni County on Saturday, Ruto said he needs MPs to support the 2024/2025 budget proposals to enable him to implement his development agenda.
“In the Budget I am preparing now, I am proposing Sh100 billion to go towards road projects. I want your MPs to support the budget in Parliament,” he stated.
“I know there are people in Makueni who are not connected to electricity. Next year we have earmarked Sh72 billion to go towards electricity, specifically Sh22 billion for the last mile connectivity. Your MPs are here, they should pass that budget so that we connect the people here to electricity."
Ruto's administration has drawn up a Sh4.2 trillion expenditure plan, including allocations to counties, according to the 2024 Budget Policy Statement (BPS).
The amount is an increase from Sh3.6 trillion in the current financial year.
The government aims to collect Sh324 billion more in taxes in the fiscal year 2024/25, relying on proposed extensive tax measures.
Ruto reiterated that MPs need to pass the budget for the government to carry on with its development plans.
“The fact of the matter is, we cannot continue to borrow money to fund development programmes. We must look for other ways of getting more resources to fund our programmes,” he said.
Ruto added that leaders must know that one time, they will be held to account for how they served the nation.
The President’s remarks come hot on the heels of a warning by Azimio la Umoja leaders that a new wave of taxation is on the way.
"If Budget Policy Statement is anything to go by, Kenyans must tighten their belts because Kenya Kwanza is coming for them in the new wave of taxation," Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka said on February 22, 2024.
"We commit to reject any further taxation by this regime."
While calling upon citizens to brace for even tougher times ahead, Azimio cautioned that the implementation of the Budget Policy Statement would increase the suffering of Kenyans.
Azimio said the government ought to adopt new ways to revamp the economy such as moderating its expenditure and reducing wastage instead of relying on “fruitless” ways.
