Kapseret Member of Parliament Oscar Sudi has castigated a section of youth protestors involved in the Thursday, June 20, 2024, demonstrations, saying they did not understand the Finance Bill 2024.
Speaking during a funeral service in Kesses Constituency on Friday, June 21, 2024, Sudi stated that the youth stand to benefit more from the government services to be achieved through the Finance Bill 2024.
“Yesterday a lot of young people took to the streets, I’m not sure if my children were among the crowd but their ages ranged from 18 years to around 20 years,” Sudi said.
“Most people do not understand the Finance Bill, after public participation, the Parliamentary Group sits and amends some contentious issues before it is passed like we did on Thursday,” he continued.
Sudi said the bill still had a long way to go and Members of Parliament will on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, go through the bill and that further amendments could still be made before a final vote is taken.
Sudi explains bill
The Kapseret legislator singled out the sanitary pads matter which is targeted by the eco levy, saying that the government was attempting to create employment by encouraging local manufacturers.
“We don’t know where imported sanitary pad manufacturers get their raw materials, that is why we imposed the tax on imported pads because we can ascertain where local manufacturers get their raw materials,” Sudi said.
Sudi noted that as a parent himself, the Members of Parliament would not introduce punitive proposals on its people.
He also said that motorcycle imports should be discouraged as it denies the Kenyan youth job opportunities.
He instead proposed that all motorcycles be fully assembled in Kenya to reduce the cost of purchasing the bikes and also provide local employment in assembly plants.
Sudi particularly took a swipe at protesting college students, saying that they stood to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the bill as the education budget allocated student loans.
“We have allocated Ksh63 billion towards education to reduce the pressure from parents who otherwise cannot afford tertiary education,” Sudi remarked.
Finance bill demos
The Thursday, June 20, 2024, Finance Bill 2024 demonstration took a tragic turn after a protestor was shot dead in Nairobi.
Several other protestors were injured, with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) officials placing the number of injuries at 300.
Activists have vowed to continue with the protests on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, when Parliament resumes debate on the controversial Finance Bill 2024.
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