Mumias East MP Peter Salasya tells President Ruto to keep off interfering legislation matters as Bumula counterpart threatens to rally behind his voters to withdrawal from paying taxes
The two legislators says will reject, the Finance Bill, 2023 in totality and as they regret taking mortgage which is drying them
The Bill, introduces penalty of Sh10,000 to those who will evade or misappropriate Housing Fund Levy
Mumias East Member of Parliament Peter Salasya has made his vote on Finance Bill, 2023 be known to President William Ruto, that he will reject it in totality when is tabled on the floor of Parliament on June 8th, 2023
The Bill, 2023, is set to be tabled in parliament for the second reading on June 8 amid stiff opposition by citizens, businesses, religious leaders and opposition lawmakers.
A nine-day public participation exercise yielded a mix of views from the public.
Salasya said, “ I will not vote for the Finance Bill. I regret taking a mortgage in the National Assembly; it’s drying me for no reason.
The first term legislator was responding to President William Ruto’s riot act warning those who will reject the bill on Thursday
He [Ruto] on Sunday, during thanksgiving homecoming ceremony for the Environment and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Ms Soipan Tuya at Narok, warned that, he will be watching MPS who will reject the Bill
“I welcome open vote so that I can watch Members of Parliament who will deny these young men jobs which are going to be created by housing levy, one house will require five men to be constructed and that’s how we are going to create millions of jobs through the housing fund
But, Salasya, the vocal and comical legislator who outwitted the former Benjamin Washiali’s man told President to keep off the legislature functions for they were elected to represent Kenyans’ plight
“President Ruto, don’t warn us as if we are your children. Mimi nilichaguliwa na watu [I was elected by the people],’’. He coughed
His sentiments were echoed by Bumula Member of Parliament Jack Wamboka who has threatened to lobby his people to withdrawal from paying taxes if President Ruto continues to issue threats
“…..Mheshimiwa rais akiwa Narok ametishia wabunge amesema wale wabunge ambao hawatasupport huo mswasa, nyinyi muendelea kulipa ushuru, wataona cha mtema kuni[when President was at Narok threated MPs that he will be watching those who will not vote his Finance Bill to face dire consequences].
Mheshimiwa rais tulitoka enzi za Moi kitambo[Honorable President we left Moi’s regime long time ago], Kenya is a democratic country, hatutakubali wewe uendelee kututisha na wewe ulikuwa umesema unataka mahustler[we will accept you to continue threatening us yet you had indicated you need hustlers], mimi mbunge wa Bumula naenda kupinga huo mswada, waendelea kutisha sisi[As a Bumula MP will reject the bill so that you can continue threatening us], na nyinyi kama mnasema eti ukipinga mswada hawaleti maendeleleo kwako[and if you say that you will not trickle down development into my constituency, then will order my people to withdraw from paying taxes we see who will bend first], na sisi tutaambia watu wetu wasilipe ushuru wote tuone watafanya nini. Kenya sio Uganda, Kenya sio Somalia, Kenya ni Kenya iliyo huru,”[Kenya not Uganda, Kenya is not Somalia, Kenya is an independent sovereign state. Bumula MP vowed
The Bill, has introduced some penalties for stealing Housing Fund Levy, as it is read in part of thereof, “A person who misappropriates any funds or assets of the Housing Fund, or assists or causes any person to misappropriate or apply the funds otherwise than in the manner provided in these Regulations, commits an offense and shall, upon conviction, be liable to imprisonment for a term of two years or to both fine or imprisonment to those who will violate the law or a fine not exceeding ten thousand shillings,”.