Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance coalition party leader Raila Odinga has asked President William Ruto to renounce the controversial Finance Bill 2023.
The opposition chief on Thursday demanded that the president stops burdening ordinary Kenyans and instead train his focus on lowering the cost of living.
Raila stated that the President should cease duplicating county functions and responsibilities.
“In the proposed Bill, the budget for health is growing by Sh35 billion at the national level, yet health is a devolved function,” he said.
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Azimio wants the president to switch to zero-based budgeting and stop using the previous budget as a starting point.
Every budget, according to Raila, ought to start from scratch and require justification for every expenditure.
The ODM leader advised Ruto to live within his financial means rather than increase the budget size.
“Instead of imposing new taxes, seal the loopholes that lead to loss of revenue,” he said.
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Raila continued by saying that the President ought to halt all non-essential government spending, such as the hiring of Chief Administrative Secretaries.
He wants Ruto to cut non-essential domestic and international travel as well as the size of the government.
The leader of the opposition suggested that Ruto freeze the domestic benefits received by the cabinet and principal secretaries as well as the ministerial residence and out-of-station allowances.
He asserted that the President must put an end to public money theft and corruption.
“We ask Ruto to humble himself, withdraw this Bill, offer an apology and seek forgiveness from Kenyans for the anxiety caused, then begin afresh.”
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