A Bold Offer: Raila’s 10 Solutions to Ruto for Governing, Recommending Dropping Finance Bill
On Thursday, June 8. The leader of the Azimio party, Raila Odinga. Asked President William Ruto to veto the Finance Bill. And offered him alternatives that he believed would reduce the cost of living throughout the country.
Raila, speaking to the press during the Azimio Economic Council forum. Asserted that his recommendations would put the economy on the path to prosperity without imposing additional taxes on Kenyans.
In addition, the leader of Azimio demanded that the Head of State withdraw the Finance Bill and apologize to Kenyans.
First, the opposition leader advised Ruto to stop duplicating county roles and responsibilities. Arguing that the Ministry of Health was consuming a significant portion of government funds. Even though health was a decentralized function.
Raila further challenged the President to adopt a zero-based budgeting formula. With no reference to the budgets enacted by his predecessors.
“Ruto should adopt a zero-based budgeting approach and not use his previous budget as a starting point,” he explained.
Regarding ways to reduce the cost of living. Raila suggested that Ruto reduce the budget to be presented on Thursday, June 15.
He argued further that rather than imposing a new set of taxes, the Head of State should close all revenue-losing loopholes.
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“Do not impose new taxes; instead, close revenue-losing loopholes,” Raila Odinga stated emphatically.
The leader of Azimio also objected to the appointment of Chief Administrative Secretaries (CASs), stating that the directive was misguided and comparing it to a nation living beyond its means.
The High Court prohibited CASs from assuming office until the outcome of a case filed by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and Katiba Institute on March 23, 2024. The petitioners argued that Ruto had created 50 positions as opposed to the advised 27.
Justice Hedwig Ong’undi, who was presiding over the case, prohibited the appointed CASs from receiving any salary, remuneration, or other benefit pending the court’s decision.
Raila also urged the President to reduce the size of the government, citing the fact that the bloated wage bill caused the economy to suffer.
Foreign Travel
The former Prime Minister challenged Ruto to “reduce domestic and international travel that is not essential.” The proposal was made less than a week after it was reported that he was requesting approximately Ksh2 billion for international travel.
The opposition also advocated for the elimination of allowances for key government employees, including Cabinet Secretaries, to increase national revenue.
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“Freeze ministerial out-of-station, house, and domestic allowances for Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries,” he suggested while urging Ruto to intensify the fight against corruption and theft of public funds.
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji was put on the spot on Monday, May 22, to explain why high-profile corruption cases had been withdrawn since Ruto assumed office in September 2022.
Haji, who was undergoing a parliamentary review for the position of Director-General of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), explained that the majority of the cases were fabricated, thus the decision to withdraw.
“Withdrawals are a constitutional right when there is a miscarriage of justice.
He defended himself and Ruto’s administration by stating, “We must, regardless of who that person is in society, even if that person comes from the aristocracy, withdraw if justified.”
Raila’s final piece of advice to Ruto on how to run the government was that passing the Finance Bill would plunge the nation into a crisis.
Raila concluded, “Finally, we ask Ruto to show humility, withdraw this bill, apologize to Kenyans and seek their forgiveness for the anxiety he has caused, and then start over.”
Wednesday, June 7th, Raila threatened to call for nationwide protests if lawmakers pass the Finance Bill of 2023.
A Bold Offer: Raila’s 10 Solutions to Ruto for Governing, Recommending Dropping Finance Bill
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