Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has expressed disappointment with Kenyans opposing the Finance Bill, describing their actions as ill-informed and unnecessary.
While speaking in Narok during the launch of the 2024 wildlife census Mutua emphasized that the bill had undergone due legislative process, with all contentious clauses amended following public input.
The CS said the Finance Bill has been reviewed thoroughly, and that all demands from stakeholders have been addressed.
“We are in democracy whereby it is just not up to the cabinet to decide, the bill was given to the National Assembly so that they can broadcast it and then given out there to wananchi for public participation that is the process, “Mutua said.
“Taking to the streets is uncalled for since these demands have been met. People and activists are getting overloaded without looking at the democratic process and the amount of propaganda that were put there you would think it was a matter of life and death.”
Tourism CS Gist Police Officer Ksh1 M
Mutua also expressed concern over the growing disrespect for law enforcement officers, highlighting the case of a senior police officer David Maina who lost both arms during recent demonstrations in Nairobi.
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“Today he is a disabled person, that man is a father, husband and child to somebody who has been disabled in the line of duty and his life changed dramatically. These are the very people demonstrators turn to in times of distress,” he said.
Alfred Mutua announced that he, along with Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu, would donate one million shillings to the injured officer’s family to cover medical expenses and other needs.
CS Mutua Lectures Kenyans
The CS further cautioned against demonstrations driven by mere activism and propaganda and called for responsible and informed civic engagement, emphasizing that the country’s progress depends on lawful and constructive actions.
“During the public participation of the Finance Bill, people were given the opportunity to say we don’t want this, reduce this or add this,” Mutua said.
“I saw when it was published people were screaming and shouting, we don’t want it and I was thinking it’s been given to you so that you express your opinion because we are in a democratic system where we listen to the voices of people, and this is a different Kenya.”
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The CS stated that the finance bill went to the cabinet, where members revised it to balance the needs of universal care and transport with the country’s need to raise resources without resorting to loans that would burden future generations.
Mutua said the process went down as planned, and the bill will pass, allowing Kenyans to continue their lives while enabling the country to collect more revenue.
“People talk about Kenyans being overtaxed, yes nobody likes being taxed, even me I don’t like being taxed, but we have to pay our taxes and some countries even pay more taxes than us,” he said.
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