'Stop complaining in funerals, reject Finance Bill in Parliament!' Wandayi tells Kenya Kwanza MPs

Kenya Kwanza MPs have been asked to stop complaining at funerals and instead join their opposition Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition counterparts in shooting down the Finance Bill, 2024.

National Assembly Minority Leader James Opiyo Wandayi said a section of Kenya Kwanza MPs claiming to oppose the Finance Bill, 2024 should demonstrate that by voting against it in Parliament.

He stated that the hour of reckoning is coming and such MPs will be expected to come out in broad daylight to vote against it, noting that the time for standing with Kenyans is now.

“Those who have been speaking in funerals and claiming to oppose the Finance Bill, the hour of reckoning is coming. We want to see you in broad daylight in Parliament when the voting time comes. The time to stand for Kenyans is now, not tomorrow. If surely you stand with Kenyans, come out and vote with us,” he said.

Wandayi, who spoke in his Ugunja constituency on Tuesday, stated that their position as the opposition is very clear that they can only support the Bill if its punitive taxes are expunged.

The lawmaker stated therefore that they are waiting for the report of the Finance committee to see if they have removed the said punitive tax recommendations, failure to which they shall vote against the Bill.

“Our position is clear; if they come to Parliament next week and say that they have listened to Kenyans and have removed the punitive taxes, we shall talk,” he stated.

The legislator also ridiculed President William Ruto's trend of issuing roadside declarations on development projects, lamenting that this is why his administration has a lust for money hence the tax burden that they impose on Kenyans.

Wandayi complained that the Kenya Kwanza government has a tendency to give out false promises to Kenyans and therefore challenged President Ruto and his administration to learn to live within their means.

“There are so many promises being given left, right and centre without the requisite funding to see them through. That is the problem we have even in this county,” he said.

“Why continue to overburden Kenyans with taxes on account of projects you cannot fund? Just live within your means.”