Embakasi MP Babu Owino Criticizes President Ruto ‘Kenya Is Not Your Personal Property’
Embakasi MP Babu Owino has slammed President William Ruto over the proposed Finance Bill, 2024 and the decision to slash some of the proposals in the Bill after a public uproar and demonstrations witnessed in Nairobi on Tuesday.
Addressing the press hours after the Kenya Kwanza leadership succumbed to public pressure and removed about 13 controversial proposals in the Bill before it is tabled in the National Assembly, Mr. Owino termed the action by the government as a ‘PR stunt’ merely aimed at hoodwinking Kenyans.
He instead rallied Kenyans to oppose the Bill through continued protests, highlighting some of the key components that are crucial to the economy including Housing Levy, Eco-Levy, tax on transportation of milk, levy on sanitary towels, diapers, phones, computers, tires, and motorcycles.
The MP faulted the decision by the President and his team to come up with problems and thereafter perceived solutions, accusing the administration of taking Kenyans for a ride.
“Despite the removal of the 16% VAT on bread, the very idea demonstrates how diabolical and disconnected this administration is from the day-to-day reality of life for ordinary Kenyans,” stated Mr. Owino.
“We want education and health to be made free; it is not about creating a problem and then having a solution for that problem as we have experienced today by the President. We will not allow this cheap PR, you are only allowed to rig elections but you cannot rig an economy.”
The outspoken legislator also implored his colleague MPs from both sides of the divide to shoot down the Bill, warning that it would be punitive to Kenyans.
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“Kenya as a nation depends on 80% of imported goods including toothpicks, tissue papers, foodstuff, eggs, chicken…we are importing all these things…I still urge all the MPs to vote NO, vote against the draconian, oppressive Finance Bill that has caused untold sorrow in the lives of Kenyans,” he said.
He further lashed out at the regime over the violence witnessed against protesters by police officers for the better part of Tuesday.
According to the lawmaker, citizens have a right to peaceful demonstrations and the government is not allowed to tramp on that right as was witnessed.
He called for the immediate release of all protesters within 24 hours, threatening legal action against Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome if demonstrators remained detained at the lapse of the said period.
“We condemn the mass arrests of peaceful protesters conducted by the police. This kind of government excess has been overtaken by time and is not acceptable. We demand for the immediate release of the people who have been arrested because it is their right to protest,” he said.
“William Ruto, Kenya is not your personal property, and you will not silence people. We are giving police 24 hours to release these peaceful protesters without charge or we will move to court against police IG Koome, in his capacity for gross violation of the freedom of speech and right to picket and protest as enshrined in our Constitution 2010.”
He added: “I maintain my belief that the Housing Levy is unconstitutional on the simple basis that housing is a devolved function. The national government has no business collecting monies to build houses and it is a political slash fund to finance Ruto’s re-election campaign and Ksh.200 million private jets.”
Embakasi MP Babu Owino Criticizes President Ruto ‘Kenya Is Not Your Personal Property’
