South Mugirango MP and Majority Whip in the National Assembly, Silvanus Osoro, has stirred controversy with his remarks regarding the contentious Finance Bill 2024, dismissing protests and emphasizing the necessity of taxes for government services.
In a statement that has sparked debate across the country, Osoro mocked those opposing the Finance Bill, asserting that taxes proposed in the bill are crucial for delivering essential services demanded by Kenyans.
“Every day you wake up, you say you want good roads or you want employment, yet you don’t want to pay taxes. Anytime you place a demand for a service, you are indirectly telling the government to tax you,” Osoro stated unequivocally.
He went on to ridicule the resistance against the proposed taxes, characterizing it as an attempt to undermine President William Ruto’s government and the Kenya Kwanza regime. “Kenyans must know that the government runs on your taxes,” Osoro affirmed, highlighting the direct correlation between taxes and public services.
Osoro’s comments came amidst nationwide protests on Tuesday against the Finance Bill 2024, which seeks to introduce new taxes and revise existing ones. The protests, led largely by young activists and supported by various celebrities and influencers, aimed to express dissatisfaction with the financial implications of the bill on ordinary Kenyans.
Despite the widespread demonstrations, Osoro expressed skepticism about their impact on halting the bill’s passage.
“I didn’t notice there was a street protest yesterday. Our meeting with President Ruto at State House ended around 2 PM and all of us headed to Parliament; we didn’t see anything,” Osoro said during a morning interview on Citizen TV.