The head of Azimio, Raila Odinga, has called for a day of demonstrations on July 7 to demonstrate opposition to the presidency of William Ruto’s recently proposed tax proposals.
Addressing the public on Sunday at the returning home celebration for the recently inaugurated head of the Luo Council of Elders in Kisumu, Odinga urged Kenyans to go in hundreds of thousands on Friday to show their opposition to what he claimed represented an executive seizure of parliament.
The Finance Act of 2023, according to the Azimio leaders, is repressive and will only exacerbate living standards for Kenyans.
“All the lawmakers that you chose to represent you in parliament have been infiltrated; they don’t anymore pay attention to what the mwananchi speak about and are instead tapping their feet to President Ruto’s beat. The state appears to be attempting to compel us to pay these taxes, he continued.
“Please pay attention to me. On the 7th, this Friday, I would like all of you to gather together and come out. Will everyone please come out?” “I want you to assist with taking responsibility for the people in power down here; I will handle everything with the people who are at the top.”
Jared Okello, a lawmaker from Nyando, reprimanded Kenya Kwanza leaders for criticising the courts following a court ruling blocking the taking effect of the latest financial legislation on Friday.
Okello stated, “We need to ask people to adhere to the courts and let the courts do whatever their role should be. We are not going to permit anybody to intervene with the judgements of the court in this nation. Just like Baba honoured the judgement of the court when they decided against us in the presidential petition.
The energy regulating organisation EPRA implemented new fuel prices the following night, ignoring the court ruling that was given on Friday, a decision that was criticised by the opposition leaders as being in disobedience of the court.