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Civil society organizations have been on the frontlines in the media protesting against the proposed Finance Bill. The Kenya Kwanza administration headed by President William Ruto has proposed punitive taxes including a mandatory housing levy. Currently, the bill is undergoing public participation where different stakeholders, business leaders, political activists, civil society groups and other interest groups are giving their input on the viability of these proposals.
A number of civil society organizations such as The Institute for Social Accountability (TISA), the National Taxpayers Association, Kenya Human Rights Commission, Amnesty International Kenya, International Budget Partnership Kenya, Oxfam Kenya, Uraia Trust, Institute of Public Finance and Inuka ni Sisi have together formed the Okoa Uchumi Initiative.
Okoa Uchumi Initiative have come out to complain about the government proposed tax measures. They say that these measures will punish low-income earners because it would milk the little disposable income they have left. The government has also proposed to raise Value Added Tax (VAT) on fuel products from eight per cent to 16 per cent. This will see the cost of ordinary products go up significantly because manufacturers will pass on the costs to the consumers.
Even though the Okoa initiative has threatened to call the citizens to protest in the streets beginning June 5th to pressure MPs to reject the bill, the question about the CSOs teeth still looms. What national influence do they yield that will get the political players both in government and parliament to act in the best interest of Kenyan citizens? That remains to be seen.
