Raila: Kenya Kwanza ‘forced’ themselves into power, now they’re clueless
Opposition chief Raila Odinga said he was happy that the Kenya Kwanza government continues to give excuses for its failure to steady the economy.
Raila, who was speaking at two different funerals in Alego Usonga and Gem constituencies in Siaya County, metaphorically said that President William Ruto ascended to the high seat irregularly and without a plan on how to rescue Kenyans from tough economic times.
“You (mourners) voted well for us but they (Kenya Kwanza) forced themselves into power and now they are choking. They are passing through a difficult time as they also have nothing more left to tax,” Raila said.
Raila laughed off the government’s tax initiatives, noting that the regime has nothing more to be taxed and saying increasing taxes is not going to grow the economy.
“We have told them that there is no point in increasing taxes as it helps nothing. Instead, they should apply the formula we used with former President Mwai Kibaki,” he said.
Raila recalled that they had found empty coffers when Kibaki came to power, after the 24-year rule of the Nyayo regime.
Accordingly, the Kibaki administration reigned in corrupt tax collectors, and then money started to trickle in, he said.
The ODM boss warned that the opposition will pile more pressure on the government if it fails to stop punitive taxes, respect the judiciary and the rule of law, and make education in the country affordable to all.
National Assembly Minority Leader and Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi called on ODM loyalists to remain steadfast in the party, explaining that their solidarity will soon be needed to put President Ruto in check.
“Remain steadfast in the party because we have a heavy task ahead of us of ensuring that we fight this government,” Wandayi said.
Wandayi asserted that even with the over taxation, the current regime cannot account for every penny that it collects.
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“Ruto, specifically, is under obligation to ensure the taxes are utilized properly. How come this government continues to collect more and more money every day?” Wandayi paused.
Wandayi also vowed to ensure that National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula is sued for contempt of court.
He said that Wetangula went ahead and published a notice on public participation with regard to the housing levy that has since been found to be unconstitutional.
“Speaker Wetangula is setting a very dangerous precedent because the courts have declared that the public participation notice was too short and therefore unconstitutional, and he is going ahead to publish that notice before the matter is heard and determined in court,” Wandayi said.
“In short, he has committed contempt of court, and I will be asking the litigants to file contempt proceedings against him because we cannot afford to continue paying an illegal levy such as that for housing.”
Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi said he was putting President Ruto on notice over his sentiments on the judiciary.
“Our view is that Kenyans have no option but to agree with the decisions of the courts because we have no other instruments of governance apart from the constitution. The constitution says that if there is a disagreement, then you take the matter to court,” Atandi said.
Atandi asked President Ruto to borrow a leaf from Raila, who has in the past demonstrated that one can disagree with court decisions and still respect them.
Raila: Kenya Kwanza ‘forced’ themselves into power, now they’re clueless
