Seth Panyako, the Secretary General of the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN), has rejected the proposed Finance Bill 2023, considering it a political scheme orchestrated by the Kenya Kwanza administration. In an interview on Spice FM, Panyako expressed his belief that the bill aimed to benefit a privileged few while burdening the common citizen.
Panyako emphasized the need to end political deceit in the country, stating that their message to the people was to put an end to such practices. He highlighted the contradiction between the government’s promise to reduce the cost of living and the actual impact of the Finance Bill, which seemed to do the opposite. Panyako pointed out that while they campaigned for affordable housing and job creation, they never intended to utilize workers’ funds for the housing program.
The Finance Bill 2023 proposes several amendments to tax and duty laws. One of the significant proposals within the bill is the introduction of a three percent tax on employees’ monthly income, alongside a corresponding contribution from their employers. The collected funds would be allocated to a dedicated fund for constructing affordable houses.
Panyako’s stance reflects his concerns about the impact of the bill on the general population, particularly the potential burden it may place on workers. He contends that the bill’s provisions contradict the government’s promises and raises questions about the utilization of workers’ contributions for purposes beyond their intended scope.