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Raila Odinga, the leader of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party, has called on President William Ruto to reduce the burden of taxation and lower the cost of living in response to the President’s New Year’s message. Speaking at Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega County on Monday, Odinga acknowledged the challenging year that Kenyans have faced economically. He urged the Kenya Kwanza administration to curtail executive spending and wastage as a New Year’s gift to the citizens.
Odinga continued to criticize what he sees as an oppressive taxation system, pledging to exert pressure on the government to cut taxes that have significantly increased prices of essential commodities such as groceries and fuel. The opposition leader outlined various proposals, including a potential revival of mass action, to compel the government to reconsider its contentious policies.
Expressing the need for the government to heed the pleas of Kenyans, Odinga declared that the high taxation witnessed in the past year must come to an end for the well-being of the people. He emphasized the goal of making 2024 a better year compared to 2023, advocating for a reduction in taxes and a decrease in the cost of living.
Odinga committed to launching a comprehensive anti-tax campaign aimed at securing budget cuts, allowing Kenyans to retain more of their earnings. He warned of the possibility of anti-government street protests if the Finance Act, 2023, is not revoked by the Kenya Kwanza government.
Accompanied by other opposition leaders at Bukhungu Stadium, where he oversaw the finals of the Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa Cup, Odinga also used the platform to call for reforms in the management of football affairs in the country. He criticized the government for neglecting sports talents, particularly in Kakamega, a region known for its football prowess.
