The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Uriri MP Mark Nyamita has backed cost-cutting measures across government agencies as a viable alternative to introducing new taxes, suggesting that such efforts could generate up to Sh40 billion.
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Nyamita criticized what he termed as the government’s excessive spending during challenging economic times, arguing that many of the expenses are avoidable.
His remarks come as public consultations on the Finance Bill, 2025, draw to a close, with several counties still scheduled to hold sessions this week.
National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has stated that the proposed Finance Bill does not introduce additional taxes but aims to refine current tax systems to enhance revenue collection.
Speaking during a Tuesday morning interview on Citizen TV, Nyamita emphasized the need to streamline government expenditure to address existing inefficiencies.
“The Finance Bill targets to raise between Sh25 and Sh40 billion. In my opinion, this gap can be covered through austerity instead of burdening Kenyans with more taxes,” he said.
He praised Parliament for curbing travel-related expenditures and urged the executive to follow suit.
“This means trimming down on travel costs and other recurrent expenditures. As a member of Parliament, I’ve noticed reduced activities compared to the previous term. The executive can also make similar adjustments,” he noted.
Nyamita pointed to recent data from Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o, which revealed that over Sh10 billion was spent on travel in just nine months of the current financial year.
“This is the kind of waste we need to address. Prioritizing savings from such areas can help narrow the budget deficit,” he added.
He further called for stricter oversight on spending under Article 223 of the Constitution, which allows certain expenditures without prior parliamentary approval.
“It’s Parliament’s duty to ensure only essential spending is allowed under Article 223. We cannot prioritize travel over critical needs like pensions,” he said.
Nyamita concluded by stating that Parliament is awaiting a report from the Budget Committee to decide on the next steps.
“We must scrutinize the final outcomes. Parliament has the tools to hold those approving this kind of spending accountable. Article 223 should not become a backdoor budget mechanism,” he emphasized.
