‘Utajua Hujui’ – Salasya Warns Mbadi Against Reintroducing Eco Levy, Other Tax Amendments.

Mumias East Constituency Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Salasya has issued a stern warning to Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi over plans to reintroduce certain clauses from the recently rejected Finance Bill, 2024. In a statement on his official Instagram account on Monday, August 19, 2024, Salasya cautioned that reintroducing these tax amendments could lead to significant unrest in the country.

Salasya emphasized that the reintroduction of tax amendments, including the Eco Levy, might ignite public outrage, particularly from Gen Z, who he claims are the current official opposition and government watchdogs.

“Mbadi, jaribu iyo ujinga utajua hujui. You want to set this country on fire again… Kenyans are watching. You might feel secure with the automatic numbers of UDA and ODM in Parliament, but we, Gen Z, are the official opposition. Try it at your own peril—this time, it will be worse. Gen Z doesn’t care; if it gets bad, it gets bad,” Salasya stated.

Salasya, who was elected under Eugene Wamalwa’s Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K), has been a vocal critic of President William Ruto’s administration. He was among the MPs who entirely rejected the controversial Finance Bill, 2024.

On Sunday, August 18, 2024, CS Mbadi hinted at the government’s plan to introduce 49 tax amendments designed to increase the country’s revenue. Among these is the revival of the Eco Levy, a proposal that was part of the disputed Finance Bill. Mbadi explained that the revised Eco Levy would exclude contentious items like sanitary pads to ensure it doesn’t burden ordinary citizens.

“The Eco Levy has its merits; we will ensure it’s applied to items that contribute to environmental pollution. Contentious issues, such as sanitary pads, will be excluded from the new proposal,” Mbadi stated during an interview with a local TV station.

The Eco Levy, part of the original Finance Bill, 2024, targeted various products, including plastic packaging, car batteries, diapers, sanitary towels, and rubber tires. Its potential reintroduction has already sparked significant debate, with Salasya leading the charge against what he views as ill-advised tax policies.

But with Gen Z poised to challenge any unfavorable amendments, will the government reconsider its approach, or is the country headed for another round of protests?

Article By Suzy Nyongesa.