A new recipe for chaos in the finance bill, warns Kalonzo

Opposition leader Kalonzo Musyoka has warned the government against re-introducing sections of the rejected 2024 Finance Bill, saying it would lead to chaos.

Kalonzo accused President William Ruto of provoking Kenyans by stealthily withdrawing parts of the tax law that sparked nationwide protests.

Speaking in Nairobi yesterday, Kalonzo, accompanied by other leaders, said the government should not take advantage of the prevailing calm to provoke Kenyans.

Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi is pushing through new tax measures from the defunct Finance Bill that the government says are not controversial.

The tax proposals are currently subject to public input.

Opposition leaders say there will be a return to protests if the government resubmits the new tax measures to Parliament for consideration.

They included DAP-K leader Eugine Wamalwa, former Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu and former vice president Rigathi Gachagua’s lawyer Ndegwa Njiru.

“We could see calm in the country and assume that the country is at peace, bringing back this finance bill is like unleashing the storm that caused the bloodshed. We want to reach out to the broad-based government and ask them not to provoke Kenyans,” Wamalwa said.

National Assembly Minority Leader Robert Mbui said they would resist any attempt to reinstate the draconian measures, insisting Kenyans would not hesitate to return to the streets to express their disapproval .

“Our young people are still angry there. This is the calm before the storm, we know there is an intention in Parliament to bring some of these laws back through the back door,” he said.

The leaders spoke at the SKM Center during a ceremony celebrating Kalonzo for his peacemaking efforts.

In an apparent turnaround, Kalonzo said Wiper would not leave the Azimio coalition but would work with DAP-K and reach out to like-minded leaders and parties to join the coalition.

Discussions have been held on a possible political agreement between Kalonzo and Gachagua ahead of the 2027 elections. “In order to consolidate the opposition in Kenya, we will have to work with everyone. We will talk to everyone in order to build a strong coalition,” Kalonzo said.

“I don’t think DAP-K or Wiper gave any notice. No one will come out from this side,” he said. Kalonzo urged Kenyans to be cautious about the state’s plans to vaccinate 22 million cows, warning the move is dangerous.

“After 22 million cows are vaccinated, we will eat genetically modified products,” he said.

The government has promised to vaccinate the country’s 22 million cattle in January next year. Fifty million additional sheep and goats will also be vaccinated.