Kilifi North MP Owen Baya has criticized individuals who are opposing President William Ruto’s Finance Bill 2023, accusing them of lying to the Kenyan people. During an interview with Citizen TV, Baya stated that the government has already reduced more than 20 taxes and continues to eliminate additional ones.
Baya claimed that those against President Ruto’s government have been attempting to bring it down from the start, and their opposition to the Finance Bill is just another manifestation of their intentions. He expressed frustration with the spread of misinformation and urged people to stop deceiving the public. Baya emphasized that he believes Kenyans are not easily fooled and that the critics are underestimating their intelligence.
According to Baya, President Ruto is actively removing certain taxes on specific goods because they are hindering growth in various sectors. For instance, the government has eliminated the 8 percent VAT on gas, as well as the railway development levy on gas. Furthermore, VAT on raw materials used for fertilizers, VAT exemptions on pharmaceutical manufacturing materials, and import declaration fees on gas have also been removed.
Addressing the claims that the government is borrowing 80 billion Kenyan shillings per week, Baya denounced these statements as falsehoods designed to mislead the Kenyan people. He clarified that the increase in borrowing for the new budget is approximately 80 billion Kenyan shillings for the entire financial year, not per week. Borrowing 80 billion Kenyan shillings per week would be an astronomical figure that could effectively fund the government itself.
Owen Baya, the Kilifi North MP, defended President William Ruto’s Finance Bill 2023, criticized those spreading misinformation, and highlighted the tax reductions implemented by the government. He also refuted the claims of excessive borrowing, asserting that the figures being circulated were grossly exaggerated.