Prime Cabinet Secretary (CS) Musalia Mudavadi has urged critics of the Finance Bill 2023 to give the government an alternative avenue to raise revenue to support the country’s economy and operations.
Speaking at the Bomas of Kenya on Thursday when he addressed members of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), Mudavadi told off opponents of the bill, who are claiming that the government is employing punitive taxes on Kenyans.
Mudavadi said the situation that the country is in calls for tough decisions, some of which will be painful in the short term but Kenyans will benefit in the future
“Do not critize and oppose what the government is proposing yet you are not giving us an alternative on how we will get solutions to fill the existing gaps. For those opposing, we are asking them what is the alternative pre-position?” Mudavadi posed.
“We have to look at this conversation holistically, since we are on the journey to revamp our economy and as government, we have an obligation to grow our people We have to change this debate about the Finance Bill 2023. There is no country globally that can sustain itself without taxes.”
The CS likewise urged members of the chamber to support the government in changing the current debate on the Finance Bill 2023, as government means well for the citizens.
“The truth of the matter is that the pain we are feeling as a nation is because fewer people have been paying taxes and the tax-man has been repeatedly coming back to the same people again. So, we need to find a way of broadening that space and we have to make some sacrifices, painful at the beginning but once we change the debate, Kenyans will realise the government means good for its people,” said Mudavadi.
“We will be seeking commitment from the Chamber to support us and we work together,” added Mudavadi.
The Prime CS also defended the new housing levy saying the idea has been misconceived and politicized to make Kenyans feel like the Government is imposing a burden on them further noting that leaders rallying Kenyans to reject the proposal are being mischievous and selfish.
“Let me put this question to Kenyans. if I Mudavadi has finished educating my children – can I begin saying that since my children have finished all the stages then I have no obligation to contribute to an education fund? Is that morally, right? Is that how you build a nation, by assuming that since you have finished a certain league then you have no obligation for anybody else to get involved?” posed Mudavadi.
He added that the debate must change from mere talk to how effective the fund will be managed and then shift the conversation to how to provide shelter to Kenyans as a constitutional requirement just as the government is obligated to provide food, clean water, universal health care and other services