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{
    "id": 1441612,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1441612/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 358,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Seme, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) James Nyikal",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I rise to oppose the Finance Bill, 2024. Since I came to this Parliament, this is the most canvassed Bill. The Committee met with professional organisations, churches, civil societies and students. All of them are unanimous that they do not like the Bill as it is. I propose that we oppose it. There were demonstrations and picketing yesterday in this town, in anticipation that the Bill would be discussed. If you looked and listened to the people who were picketing this time, they are well-educated. People may think that they were mobilised through social media, but they have read this Bill. They know what is in it. I dare say that some of them have read it better than us. Kenyans are against this Bill because we had a Bill last year, which has made people suffer. We have brought another Finance Bill, but they are still suffering. They have looked through this one, but they still have not seen hope. We represent the people of this country. Why are they reacting like that? There are clauses that they do not like in this Bill. I will come to the Report later. The motor vehicle tax is illegal. They know it. An asset is not an income, but it is there. When you do that, all people will suffer. It is not only the people who own vehicles who will suffer, but also transport vehicle users. Look at the tax on digital market. This is the reason as to why young people are out on the streets. They have no jobs. Those are educated people. They use the digital marketplace to earn a living – tik-tok and content creation. We also have digital hubs in our constituencies. The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy is putting up digital hubs. They encourage young people to use them. We are now levying tax on that and yet, we do not have jobs for them. Levying VAT on bread is something that has never been heard of in this country. We are now bringing it in. Whom are we affecting? It is the ordinary person. Bread is a staple food. There is also VAT on vegetable oils. Some months back, we had a big problem with the price of oil. We are, again, imposing tax when the prices are just starting to come down. If you add tax on mobile phones, everyone uses them. Even school-going children use them. People feel that the Government we have now is against them. That is why we have this problem. Look at the Eco Levy in Clause 45, which touches on diapers, sanitary pads and tyres of motor vehicles, bicycles and motorbikes. This touches the ordinary people. I know that we have proposed an amendment which says that the Eco Levy will only be imposed on imported products. People are rioting because they do not like this Bill. The additional Fuel Levy was not even there, but it has since been brought in. We are proposing about Ksh7 on top of what is currently there. If you do this, everybody will be touched. There is also an issue on the Housing Levy. We amended the Bill that was assuring the people who have contributed the money of getting the houses. We are now making it open to everybody. People do not like this levy. They thought they would get the houses but now, everybody…."
}