Kitui Central MP Makali Mulu has said that he will vote against the 2023 Finance bill and gave conditions for Azimio to support the controversial bill.
Speaking at St.Charles Lwanga School in Kitui where Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was also present, Makali said that there are serious issues that need to be looked at in the proposed finance bill which is directly affecting the common mwananchi. Makali told off Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua that overtaxing Kenyans is not the solution for getting development in the country.
“We must say the truth because taxes are money that belongs to the people, I want to request DP Rigathi to tell President the pressing issues in the proposed finance bill. The issue of increasing the Value Added Tax (VAT) from 8 percent to 16 percent (as I talk as an economist and not a politician) should be relooked at and ask ourselves alternative methods we can use,” Makali stated.
Makali added that he is ready to be consulted since he is an economist to give alternative ways of getting money.
On matters of the controversial housing scheme, Makali stated that it is clear that the people don’t want the scheme because it is like a burden to the people thus it should also be re-looked.
“If my colleague Nimrod Mbai will support the bill the way it is, be sure that this is his last term because the people will ‘take him home’. If we want to take care of our people let’s go to a roundtable and scrutinize the 3 percent house levy because every Kenyan needs a house, I also need one but can we make sure that we get it in a way that we don’t harm our people,” the Kitui Central MP added.
Makali told DP Rigathi if those issues will be reviewed there will be a consensus at the National Assembly but if they will ignore the same then the Azimio Team will revolt.
“Some of us will remove our trousers in Parliament if the bill will not be amended, ‘tutatoa suruali’ we will say NO because we must say the truth. I don’t pretend if it will be like this my vote will be a big No but if they will be corrected, I will have no problem,” Makali added.
Rigathi Gachagua replied that he is confident that the bill will pass because Kenya Kwanza controls the majority while the Azimio team are the minority.
