Raila Breaks Silence on Protests as Azimio Takes Stand 

Azimio Leader Raila Odinga commended Kenyans for standing against the controversial Finance Bill 2024 by staging protests in Nairobi.

Raila responded to a young lady who requested him to completely stay away from the anti-finance bill protests in the Nairobi CBD.

In a video trending on social media, the young lady pleads with Raila to stay at home and let the youth demonstrate on his behalf.

The lady admitted that the country misses the efforts of Raila but asked the former Prime Minister to let the people fight for themselves.

“Raila, this is a message to you, usitokee (don’t show up) don’t come, please stay at home. We saw your efforts and everything that you did for Kenya. We miss you but don’t come outside, tunatoka on your behalf (We will represent you),” the lady said.

In a statement on X, Raila hailed the lady and all Kenyans for stepping up to agitate for their rights.

“I’m a very proud father today! Hongera sana to the young lady and all those who bravely stood up for their rights!” the former Prime Minister said.

Raila’s daughter, Winnie Odinga, also shared a video of the lady stating that the opposition was on leave.

Boniface Mwangi Defends Raila

Human Rights Activist Boniface Mwangi, one of the organizers of the Occupy Parliament protests, had earlier defended Raila for missing the demonstrations.

Mwangi explained that Raila has done a lot for Kenyans and deserves to rest at his age.

Besides, the activist said the Opposition leader is also committed to become the next African Union (AU) Commission chairperson.

“Raila is unemployed, is looking for a job at the AU so he is busy canvassing to get the seat. Raila is also old. He has done this for over 40 years. We should be ashamed of ourselves for demanding more from Raila. He has given his best,” he said.

He hinted that the opposition has disappointed Kenyans since it has no leader, adding that Kenyans must fight for themselves.

Also Read: Finance Bill: Govt Drops Contentious Tax Proposals After Pressure

Azimio Proposes More Amendments

The Azimio Coalition praised Kenyans for taking to the streets and forcing MPs and the government to listen to their demands.

In a statement, Minority Party Leader Opiyo Wandayi accused the government of playing mind games with some of the proposals in the bill.

Wandayi asserted that the government deliberately included some of the dropped proposals to incite Kenyans and paint the government as ‘listening and understanding’.

Also Read: Boniface Mwangi: Inspiring Story of Former House Boy & Hawker Leading Finance Bill Protests

“The changes to the Bill announced today give the impression that the government is playing mind games with citizens,” Wandayi said.

“They create the feeling that some of the proposals now dropped were included in the initial bill just to create outrage and give the administration the opportunity to claim to be listening and caring.”

Azimio has proposed additional amendments to the Bill, including removing a 10% export promotion levy on clinkers used in cement production and rejecting the proposal to increase the fuel levy by Ksh9 per litre.

Ruto Drops Some Proposals

National Assembly’s Finance Chair Kimani Kuria announced in a Kenya Kwanza Parliamentary Group meeting chaired by President William Ruto that they dropped a raft of controversial proposals in the Finance Bill 2024 ahead of the tabling of the document in the National Assembly.

Some of these proposals include 16 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT), Motor Vehicle Circulation Tax, Excise duty on vegetable oil and the proposed increase on transaction of mobile phone transfer services. 

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