Azimio leader Raila Odinga has continued his opposition to the Finance Bill and urged Kenyans to oppose the proposed tax measures at any cost.
Speaking on Wednesday during Nairobi’s Youth and Women Empowerment Program, Raila said he has instructed the parliamentarians allied from Azimio to reject the Bill when it reaches Parliament hall for voting.
“Yesterday I was here with our MPs and I told them that I don’t want to see even one MP supporting it, I want our MPs to stand up and be counted,” he said.
“We will count those who will oppose and those who will support so that voters who elected them know who the traitors are.”
The ODM leader told President William Ruto that he opposes the Finance Bill because he has been in government and knows how the economy is run.
He recalled during his time as the Prime Minister of the country, they implemented an economic stimulation program with the late President Mwai Kibaki to promote the economy and bring Kenya’s economy out of recession.
“We know how to run the economy. We joined the government as the economy was affected and worse than now,” Raila said.
He noted that among their ideas was the establishment of free primary education which they ensured was implemented without fail as they promised during the Narc campaigns.
Raila said because of the introduction of free education, schools were overcrowded to the extent that students had to study under trees and others in makeshift classrooms in tents.
Ruto has continued to push for the passage of the Finance Bill amid strong opposition from political leaders, clergy and various public and private organizations.
`
The bill that aims to expand the scope of taxes and increase revenue collection has controversial tax proposals including a mandatory charge of 3% for the Housing Fund.
Azimio under the leadership of Raila described the measures as “a major step in making every Kenyan miserable.”
Raila on Tuesday held a meeting of the Group of Members of Parliament in Nairobi to pave way forward after bilateral talks aimed at resolving complex issues regarding the Bill and electoral issues hit a snag last week.
