Makueni: Mutula Kilonzo withdraws county finance bill to avert planned demos over tax
Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.
Makueni - Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior has opted to withdraw the entire county finance bill following strong opposition from residents, who had planned demonstrations against proposed tax hikes.
Makueni: Mutula Kilonzo at a past function in Kibwezi. He has granted the wishes of Makueni residents by withdrawing the finance bill. Photo: Mutula Kilonzo. Source: Facebook
The bill, which aimed to increase taxes, faced a significant backlash among taxpayers in the county.
Governor Kilonzo Junior's administration had counted on these tax proposals to meet the county's Sh11 billion budget, recently passed by the County Assembly. However, facing mounting resistance from the public, he decided to withdraw the bill entirely, as NTV Kenya reported.
“We sat as Cabinet and decided not to implement our new tax proposals this year after traders said they could not afford them, citing tough economic times. We will revisit the proposals in the next financial year when the economy improves. Once the economy improves, we will return to our tax proposals," said Kilonzo Junior.
What new taxes did Kilonzo Junior propose?
According to Damaris Kavoi, the Finance Executive of Makueni, the proposed bill included several new taxes such as a fee of KSh 30,000 for the evacuation of flammable substances using fire engines on standby, KSh 3,000 per day for taking wedding photographs at Makongo Viewpoint, and KSh 100 per trip for donkeys used commercially.
Additionally, the bill suggested raising the cess by Sh400 on a tractor load of sand used for domestic purposes.
This move comes shortly after protests by young people, referred to as Gen Z members, against the Finance Bill 2024, which led President William Ruto to withhold his assent from it.
More to follow...
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