The National Assembly Chief Whip, Silvanus Osoro, has criticised President William Ruto for withdrawing the controversial Finance Bill 2024, which proposed increased taxes on commodities.
In an interview with Al Jazeera on Friday, the Member of Parliament for South Mugirango argued vehemently against those who opposed the bill, asserting that it would have broadened the tax base and reduced the need for both local and foreign borrowing.
"Ruto made a mistake in dropping the Finance Bill 2024. I maintain that I would vote in favour if the bill returns. Kenyans should understand that hashtags and protests won't remove Ruto; the only effective way is through the ballot," Osoro affirmed.
He also rebuked the Kenyan populace for previously approving reforms that expanded the number of positions, leading to increased expenditure on salaries. This included the establishment of 47 devolved units and the implementation of the new Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), which added more teachers alongside those already employed by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
Osoro expressed regret over President Ruto's initiation of new reforms, including ongoing restructuring within the government.
"Ruto's decision was fundamentally wrong. Not only did I vote yes, but I also rallied my colleagues as the Chief Whip of the National Assembly Majority to support it," he added.
The MP argued that Kenyans have never been left behind on key government reforms owing to the fact that the sovereignty solely belongs to them. He added that Kenyans vote every five years to elect leaders and pay them for service delivery.
"It is the Kenyan people that set different systems of government that are autonomous including the Judiciary, they gave the responsibility to the previous government to pass and approve a new system of education that required an additional 66,000 teachers."
According to him, all these reforms required a budget and extra money and the only way the government could get was through broadening the tax base or borrowing more.
He revealed that the government had planned to shun away from depending on any foreign aid to run its internal affairs as witnessed in the previous regime.
"It is shameful for a country to depend on aid to run internal affairs. That is what a responsible leader ought to have done."
Other than the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024, President Ruto on Thursday took the country by yet another surprise after he sacked his entire Cabinet, save for Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
In his highly anticipated address to the nation, the President detailed that the purge had been informed by the recent developments in the country that have been characterised by the youth-led countrywide protests.
Despite outlining several achievements made by his government, Ruto acknowledged that Kenyans were displeased with the performance of his government.
He then announced that he decided to fire all Cabinet Secretaries including his chief legal advisor- Attorney General Justin Muturi.
"Upon reflection, listening keenly to what the people of Kenya have said and after a holistic appraisal of the performance of my Cabinet and its achievements and challenges, I have, in line with the powers given to me by Article 152(1) and 152(5)(b) of the Constitution and Section 12 of the Office of the Attorney-General Act, decided to dismiss with immediate effect all the Cabinet Secretaries and the Attorney-General from the Cabinet of the Republic of Kenya except the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs," he stated.
The protests saw a youths-led revolt under the pretence of protestors storming the Senate, National Assembly, and Judiciary and setting ablaze critical government infrastructure.
The head of state declared radical changes including dissolving various entities to accommodate demands by the youth to reorganize his government. The move would see to it that austerity measures are embraced.
He suspended the appointment of 50 Chief Cabinet Secretaries and reduced government advisors by 50 per cent. This saw advisors across all the 21 Ministries reduced.
President Ruto also scrapped the budgetary allocation of First Lady Rachael Ruto and Deputy President's wife, Dorcas Rigathi whose offices will no longer enjoy State funding.
