By Kimondo Maina, DevReporter, Nyeri County
Key Highlights
- United for a purpose – The bill has united community members from the youth to retirees, all in opposition.
- Strong perception of corruption and wastage in government with alleged budgeted corruption as a major concern.
- The Finance Bill opened a pandora’s box, leading to increased scrutiny of government operations and the need for greater youth involvement in politics.
Protests against the Finance Bill 2024
started on 18 June, as young people countrywide took to the streets with the aim of swaying parliamentarians to reject the Finance Bill that was in its final voting process.
The protesters termed the bill punitive and oppressive to the taxpayer.
The bill, according to the government, sought to raise $ 2.7 billion in taxes to reduce the country’s debt burden.
In Nyeri, the youth joined the anti-Finance Bill movement citing their reasons to oppose the Bill.
“When we look at the Finance Bill 2023, we ask what the money so far collected been spent on? You cannot look for more money when you cannot account for what you did with what you had. We cannot see the money collected through the Finance Bill 2023 has” Peter, a youth from Nyeri argues.
“There is too much wastage, and there is budgeted corruption,” Charles, another youth from Nyeri states.
Economic Implications of the Bill
The Bill proposed an increase in the cost incurred in moving money in the economy through mobile wallets and mobile accounts.
According to Boniface Njoroge, who sells second-hand shoes in Nyeri town, the tax additions would be bad for business given the economy has moved to a cashless society where customers pay for their goods using mobile money transfers.
The Bill also proposed a new provision to the Land Act, stating that owners of freehold land located within urban areas or cities, must pay an annual land levy. This levy would be equivalent to the rent charged for a leasehold or property of the same size in the same zone.
Landowners and retirees greatly opposed this: “We bought the land with our money, and now we have to pay more money. This bill is burdening us,” Titus argues. He added: “We are strongly behind the younger generation who want a better country”.
With the above as part of the motivations, the younger generation took to the streets in a successful fight that saw the president withdraw the Bill on 26th June.
However, the withdrawal of the bill did not quell the unrest as many felt that deeper unresolved issues were not addressed.
According to some, the Finance Bill served as a stepping-stone for people to air their sentiments. Among other issues that the demonstrators wanted addressed are the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), scrapping of unconstitutional offices and posts in government, as well as changes in the cabinet.
During this course, 39 people lost their lives nationwide while 391 others sustained injuries as published by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.
In Nyeri, Chieni Supermarket owned by Kieni MP, Wainina Njoroge, was invaded and looted. The legislator reportedly lost Ksh. 550M.
What is Next?
According to Lawyer Gitau Mbau, since the president withdrew the Finance Bill 2024, no new tax regimes will be implemented, and the budget will be funded using revenue collected under the Finance Act 2023, as well as through borrowing.
“We have dropped the Finance Bill. This means that we are going to borrow a trillion Kenya shillings to be able to run the government,” President William Ruto said.
