President William Ruto has announced that he has withdrawn the Finance Bill 2024 after listening to the people of Kenya.
He has also proposed budget cuts for the office of the president and the renovations that had earlier been budgeted for.
The head of state noted that despite the good will of the government and the need to solve different issues that Kenyans are facing including the need for healthcare and development, he had to listen to the cries of Kenyans.
“Listening keenly to the people of Kenya who have said loudly they want nothing to do with the finance bill 2024, I concede and therefore will not sign the bill, and it shall therefore be withdrawn. I have agreed with MP’s that it becomes our collective position”
“There is need for us as a nation to pick up from here and go into the future, and I am therefore proposing that because we have gotten rid of Finance Bill 2024,
“Tt is important for us to have a conversation about how we manage our situation together, how we manage our debt situation together, how do we work on the budget and the deficit that now exists together,” said Ruto.
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Ruto on Working with Gen Z Moving Forward
Subsequently, he said that he will be proposing new measures to ensure that he works with the youth to make decisions moving forward.
Additionally, he said that he would involve other stakeholders including civil societies on decision making within the next 14 days.
“I will be proposing an engagement with our young people, our sons and daughters, for us to listen to their views and proposals, ideas and concerns and what we think we should implement and do better going forward,
“I am also proposing a multisectoral, bilateral, multistakeholder engagement from civil society, religious organizations, professional bodies, for us as a nation, to speak to the future of our country, again together. This will be on matters contained in the bill and matters raised in the conversations that have been going on” said Ruto.
Also Read: Ruto Declines to Sign Finance Bill 2024
Reducing Expenditure Including State House Renovations
Ruto has also said that the operational expenditure in the presidency including state house renovations will be reduced.
Additionally, he announced that his travel budget will be reduced as well as his hospitality, purchase of motor vehicle and budget for other expenditures.
Other budget cuts proposed by the president are those of the Parliament, the Judiciary and County Governments
“In this regard, I direct immediate further austerity measures to reduce expenditure, starting with the Executive Office of the President and extending to the entire executive arm of government.
“I propose that equally, Parliament, the Judiciary and County Governments working with the National Treasury also undertake budget cuts and austerity to ensure that we do what I have always advocated for, that we live within our means,” added Ruto.
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