Machakos Governor, Wavinya Ndeti, has urged Senators to shoot down the proposed Housing Levy tax when it comes before the Upper House.
Addressing mourners at the burial of the late Sarah Mutile, who was the wife of Machakos County ODM chairman, Peter Mutulu, Wavinya faulted MPs for allowing the controversial Bill to sail through, terming it excessively punitive to the already overburdened Kenyans.
“Senators exist to protect devolution. Any of them who votes in a manner to scuttle devolution is an enemy of the people and should be voted out by residents because they do not have their interests at heart,” Wavinya said.
She urged her counterparts from the Kenya Kwanza faction to lobby their respective senators to save Kenyans who she said were staring at extreme hardships due the high cost of living in the country.
She called on President William Ruto to allow resources to flow to the grassroots level by not starving Counties of cash.
“Here in Machakos I wouldn’t even think of introducing new taxes on the people, otherwise I will be out to kill them,” she said.
Her sentiments were echoed by her deputy, Francis Mwangangi who claimed the Kenya Kwanza administration was out to kill devolution.
“It is shocking that despite the expanded national budget of Ksh 4.2 trillion, the National Government is keen on trimming the counties’ budgets. In my conclusion, Kenya Kwanza Government is a threat to devolution,” said Mwangangi.
Nairobi Senator, Edwin Sifuna defended the Azimio side directing the blame to Kenya Kwanza.
“As Azimio Senators, we have no issue against devolution. We voted to increase allocation to counties. The problem lies squarely with Kenya Kwanza. If governors expect more resources, they should lobby their respective Senators to push for the counties’ interests,” Sifuna said.
