In order to provide his government with funding to carry out numerous projects in the education sector, President William Ruto pleaded with Parliamentarians on Thursday to approve the controversial Finance Bill 2024.
Speaking at the fifth graduation ceremony of Garissa University in Garissa, Ruto stated that the bill will allow the State to feed students from low-income families. The bill aims to increase tax revenue by Ksh. 346.7 billion.
According to him, the government wants to fund school lunch programs in order to boost and maintain student attendance.
“I am asking the MPs to expedite the bill in Parliament so that we can make that facility available to vulnerable children who otherwise will be out of school unless there is a meal for them there,” Ruto said.
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Additionally, he mentioned the proposed law as a crucial step toward hiring intern teachers on long-term, pensionable contracts.
"Every child deserves a chance," Ruto stated, pleading with lawmakers to approve the legislation so that his administration will have the funding necessary to provide loans and scholarships to college students.
The National Assembly Finance Committee announced on Tuesday that some of the proposed levies, including an increase in the tax on bread, a motor vehicle circulation tax, and an excise duty on vegetable cooking oil, have been slashed in response to public outcry, which has since grown to nationwide protests.
The National Treasury has informed Parliament, however, that the revenue forecast in the Ksh.3.992 trillion 2024/2025 budget would be short by Ksh.200 billion due to changes made to the proposed finance law.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung'u outlined budget cuts that will be implemented across various departments in the three arms of government if the tax proposals in the Finance Bill 2024 are not approved in a letter dated June 19 and addressed to the clerk of the National Assembly.
On Thursday, Parliament will begin its second day of debate on the Finance Bill.
Next Tuesday, the bill's Third Reading, or committee of the whole house, is scheduled to take place, and MPs will be moving amendments that have been approved by the speaker.
Legislators will then take a final vote to determine the Finance Bill’s fate before June 30, before the 2024/25 financial year begins on July 1.
