Karua’s Explosive Allegations: Kenya Kwanza Accused of Launching Economic Warfare on Citizens via Controversial Finance Bill
Martha Karua, the leader of the Narc Kenya party, has accused the government of Kenya Kwanza of waging an economic war against Kenyan citizens via the Finance Bill 2023.
According to Karua, the economic war primarily targets vulnerable citizens because the government has failed to implement its manifesto to lower commodity prices.
“You would expect that during these difficult times, there would be measures to cushion the vulnerable, you would expect that food items, essential items, and you recall that Azimio has been at the forefront of requesting and demanding a reduction in the cost of living,” Karua said.
She added that the Finance Bill’s proposals would increase the cost of living.
“This bill is an act of contempt towards these demands, as its natural effect will be to increase the cost of living,” she said.
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Regarding the VAT, Karua states that the increase of fuel VAT from 8% to 16% would have a ripple effect on other economic sectors.
When tax-exempt items that were previously zero-rated are re-exempted, the effect is to increase the prices of essential items such as medicine, which, given the current status of NHIF, means that the average person will not have access to critical medicine.
The co-principal of Azimio la Umoja further accused the government of shifting its focus away from the people to maintain pompous and unnecessary expenditures on government officials, including the President’s office. She referenced the presidents and a subset of government officials’ lavishly funded global tours.
“This is occurring in a context where non-essential expenditures for the office of the president, office of the vice president, office of the prime cabinet secretary, luxury items, have increased the budget for travel, with the office of the president setting the example, and have increased the amount for the purchase of non-essential items,” Karua remarked.
The Finance Bill, according to Karua, could endanger the lives of citizens and even lead to their deaths due to a lack of access to essential provisions such as food and life-saving medication, and it will regressively erode people’s ability to support their families.
Karua’s Explosive Allegations: Kenya Kwanza Accused of Launching Economic Warfare on Citizens via Controversial Finance Bill
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