Legislators to debate Finance Bill 2024 in special Thursday session

The special session was agreed upon during a Tuesday sitting, and the legislators have now scheduled an extra sitting on Thursday beginning at 9 a.m. 

The motion was introduced by Majority Leader Kimani Ichungw'ah following approval by the House Business Committee.

"This, Mr Speaker, will allow members the opportunity to debate the Finance Bill, 2024, given that many members are interested in contributing to the debate," Said Ichungwah.

Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi backed the motion, saying the decision was sound because it would give MPs more time to contribute to the Bill.

"It was seized on the House Business Committee that we allocate enough sitting days for members to contribute effectively and for their constituents to get to know where they stand on this matter,'' he said.

MPs also agreed to extend Wednesday afternoon sittings until 9:30 p.m., allowing as many people as possible to participate in the Bill debate.

Meanwhile, the government has dropped a number of contentious proposals from the Finance Bill 2024, which is set to be tabled in the National Assembly on Tuesday afternoon.

The proposal to impose a 16 percent Value Added Tax on bread, financial services, and foreign exchange transactions is at the top of the list of proposals that have been withdrawn due to sustained public pressure.

The announcement came after a meeting of members of parliament from the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition, led by President William Ruto, at State House in Nairobi.

Here is a list of the changes made to the Finance Bill 2024:

1. The proposed 16 per cent on bread has been dropped. 

2. Excise duty on vegetable oil removed. 

3. Transfer of mobile services is a key concern for many Kenyans hence no increase on transaction of mobile phone transfer services. The status quo remains. 

4. We proposed that statutory deductions such as Housing Levy, SHIF to be tax deductible and hence allow what is subjected to PAYE is an amount less than what was therebefore so more disposable income. 

5. Eco levy will only be tangible to imported finished products. All locally manufactured items including diapers and sanitary towels will not be subject to eco-levy. 

6. VAT Threshold; increase from Ksh.5 million to Ksh.8 million hence SMEs that have turnover of less than Ksh.8 million don't have to register for VAT. 

7. eTIMS -  Small businesses that have turnover of less than Ksh.1 million should be exempted from eTIMS. 

8. Eggs, onions, potatoes, - proposed excise duty only on imported eggs, onions and potatoes hence locally produced to be more marketable. 

9. Fight against illicit brew - change in excise duty from volume to alcohol content hence those producing very high alcohol content will pay more excise duty. 

10. To support pension contributions: Increase amount allowable for Taxable contributions from Ksh.20,000 to Ksh.30,000 monthly. 

11. Money allocated for JSS - hire all 46,000 JSS intern teachers for permanent and pensionable terms. In addition to recruit another 20,000. 

12. Motor Vehicle Tax - The motor vehicle tax cannot be amended through Income Tax Act. Pegging it on insurance would cripple the insurance business and hence the proposal has been dropped. 

13. Sugarcane Transportation: Remove VAT on transportation of sugarcane from farms to the milling factories.