Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Babu Owino is calling on the government to subsidize undergarments for the benefit of the common man.
The firebrand lawmaker while speaking to Sauti TV faulted President William Ruto for subsidizing fertilizer at the moment.
“Sahi they are now reducing the cost of fertilizer. Fertilizer hatutakula fertilizer sahi, we have to wait for fertilizer. We have to wait so that at least planting season comes then harvest season. So by the time, we reach that period and people are dying of hunger will you even have the patience to wait? You will not,” Babu said.
His sentiments come after the government through the Ministry of Agriculture on Tuesday, September 20, released Ksh3.5 billion to cushion farmers against the high cost of fertilisers in the country.
Babu insist gov’t should focus on basic needs
The Embakasi East MP further castigated Ruto’s government for failing to deliver on the campaign promise of lowering the cost of maize flour to Ksh70.
He called on the government to focus on reducing the cost of basic needs which according to him also includes undergarments.
Babu expressed regret that the government is still taxing clothing items like boxers and brassieres.
“Si tuliambiwa tu juzi unga itakua 70 bob. Life is about the is-ness, not the ought-ness. It is about what it is now not what it ought to be tomorrow. For me to reach tomorrow I must achieve today. But for me to achieve today we only need basic needs. The first basic need is food therefore lower the prices of unga.
“The second basic need is clothing therefore reduce the taxes on clothing. Then watu wa mitumba waredusive tax. This is a country where bras and boxers and underwear are being taxed honestly. That’s not fair,” Babu Owino complained.
“The most important thing is to reduce taxes on clothing and also rent pia wareduce. So the basic needs are food, clothing, shelter and education. And education pia walisema ni free wapeane free education,” he added.
