As Kenyans await the highly anticipated budget statement, National Treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u’s photo session outside the National Treasury was on Thursday, June 13, 2024, briefly disrupted by a protester.
The protester ran from across the road and jumped into the photo while chanting protest songs.
“We must resist…people are suffering,” the protester chanted.
The protester was then hurriedly carried away by security officers at the National Treasury building, allowing the photo session to go on.
CS Ndung’u is expected to unveil the Ksh4 trillion budget at the National Assembly, where he has already arrived.
The CS while addressing the media on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, said that the country has come from a very difficult situation.
He also added that there has been stability in the exchange rate which signals stability in the total economy.
The CS, however, expressed concern about public discourse on budget saying it tends to focus narrowly on tax and revenue-raising measures while overlooking the broader and more complex issues at play.
Draft budget
According to the draft budget, the national government could get Ksh2.2 trillion, the consolidated fund services that is mainly used for servicing debts get Ksh1.2 trillion while counties will share out Ksh400 billion.
The Executive Arm has been allocated Ksh2.24 trillion comprising a recurrent allocation of Ksh1.5 trillion and a development expenditure of Ksh724.4 billion.
Judiciary has been allocated about Ksh23.6 billion while Parliament is to receive Ksh44 billion.
The draft budget projects revenue collection at Ksh3.3 trillion with the difference bridged by borrowing comprising net borrowing at Ksh300 billion and net external borrowing of Ksh306 billion.
Among the notable inclusions in the proposed 2024/2025 budget is the introduction of motor vehicle tax at 2.5% of the value of the vehicle or a minimum Ksh 5,000 and capped at Ksh 100,000 standardising VAT, the introduction of the eco levy on electronics, diapers, lithium batteries and tyres.
Kenyans reject the bill
Kenyans have been up in arms, urging their Members of Parliament (MPs) to vote against the Finance Bill 2024.
On Wednesday, June 12, 2024, Kenyans sent messages to the lawmakers, urging them to shoot down the bill.
President William Ruto has, however, urged the lawmakers to pass the bill when it will be presented in the parliament.
Ruto who was speaking in Meru on Thursday, June 13, 2024, when he kicked off his tour of the county, said the lawmakers should pass the bill to allow Kenyans get the development they desire.
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