The Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Council of Kenya calls for broad discussions to achieve a consensus on the 2023 Finance Bill that proposes tax hikes on various items.
The Council’s National Chairman, Stephen Cheboi, said that the government needs to reduce unnecessary spending to save taxpayers from avoidable tax increases.
The council is calling for an increase in development funding in the country and more so to the grassroots to benefit the citizens.
“The NGO council held discussions among its NGOs membership on the proposed bill that was tabled in Parliament and urges Kenyans to obediently play their part but the government should do away with any possible wastage in tax utilizations,” said Cheboi in a statement.
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Further, he said that the Council fully appreciates the Kenya Kwanza government for steps taken on economic transformation, having inherited a battered economy rocked by galloping inflation.
“We urge the government to freeze unnecessary expenditure as ordered by President William Ruto on being sworn in as Kenya’s 5th president on September 13, 2022,” said Cheboi.
Cheboi urged Kenyans to accord the bi-partisan team a humble time as they deliberate on various issues affecting the nation.
He has also called on the selected parliamentarians to deliberate and agree on issues affecting the common citizen.
The Finance Bill 2023 was On April 28, 2023, tabled in Parliament for the first reading on May 4, 2023.
It proposes a raft of changes and amendments to the various tax statutes in Kenya and other laws, such as the Stamp Duty Act, the Insurance Act, the Capital Markets Act, and the Unclaimed Financial Assets Act.
The Statutory Instruments Act, the Betting, Lotteries, and Gaming Act, the Evidence Act, the Kenya Roads Board Act, the Road Maintenance Levy Fund Act, and the Retirement Benefits Act.
