NEWS GANG: The price of turning a deaf ear to public sentiment on Finance Bill 2024

Sam: And so we begin the New gang on a listening note. Tonight our country yearns for an ear or two. An ear to just listen. Because let’s face it, the events of the last few days boil down to one conclusion; failure to listen. 

Linus: Because of failing to listen, many in this country have for the last three days been wondering where protestors are coming from, who their leader is, what their tribe is and ultimately what their end game is. And for failing to listen, something unprecedented has visited shock across the Kenyan landscape. 

Jamila: The Finance Bill 2024 is a subject matter and actually has been for some time now. Just as we wish to illustrate here, a number of listening checkpoints were missed. From the time it was published, some of the provisions of the Finance Bill 2024 triggered the immediate reaction of stakeholders, taxpayers and even ordinary Kenyans.

Sam: Two such provisions stood out; the 16 per cent levy on bread and a rather common sense defying motor vehicle tax. Some have called it a tax on tax upon a tax. Kenyans through sector stakeholders like the Kenya Association of Manufacturers, Association of Kenya Insurers, the Motorists Association of Kenya, the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and even religious leaders presented their views publicly, soberly and persuasively to the Parliamentary Committee on Finance and Planning. The aggregate of their submissions was that some of these provisions were bad for Kenya.

Linus: Across media platforms including right here on Citizen TV and other Royal Media Services platforms, a robust debate on these contentious issues was staged. At one point, a big conversation brought together several stakeholders including representatives from the government to debate the bill. Public participation took place in many other different spaces and in different forms. From it, one could not mistake the very strong repulsion the bill invoked from what is arguably a majority of Kenyans. The views seemingly fell on deaf ears.

Jamila: In typical ways of old, the government marched resolutely with the bill intact as originally drafted. With some operatives saying no to change; not a comma, not a full stop. Others said they have the House majority, they have the numbers to pass the bill as it is. Online, those perceived to speak for the government posted provoking and even insulting comments to the digital contributors to the finance bill debate. And in our considered opinion that is how Tuesday happened. 

Sam: Like a thunderbolt from the clear skies a new generation hit the streets of Nairobi in an unprecedented protest whose style and substance make good matter for a case study. everyone born after 1997 and before 2012 belongs to this generation called Gen Z. This generation constitutes the majority of those who are using social media and digital platforms to discuss the finance bill. This is the generation that was dismissed with contempt by some senior figures as useless online content peddlers. 

Linus: Insulted online, the Gen Z stepped forward to prove that they were not mere fingers on keyboards but real Kenyans capable of staging physical marches. And so happened the Tuesday occupy parliament to protest. In many ways, the protesters and the protests were a product of a country’s failure to listen. To illustrate that their demands were no different from all previous ones made, except for their bottom line demand, that the finance bill in its entirety be rejected.

Jamila: and for failing to listen, the country is tonight hearing from the least expected quarters. A generation previously perceived as passive, indifferent, laid back and even unconcerned is literally running the show on every Kenyan ear drum tonight. Listening is no longer a choice, it is a national imperative. The news gang starts right now.