Amnesty International has joined efforts by the Anglican Church in calling on lawmakers to amend sections of the Finance Bill 2024 that impact the livelihoods of Kenyans. This appeal comes as Parliament debates the bill.
The Anglican Church leadership, led by Rev. Ole Sapit, convened at the All African Conference of Churches in Nairobi for a symposium. The event aimed to share expertise and experience in social transformation, bringing together all ten regions of the Anglican Development Services.
Speaking to journalists, Rev. Ole Sapit explained that the Anglican Development Services program addresses the needs of the poor in areas such as health, education, food security, advocacy, and climate change adaptation. “As the Anglican Church of Kenya, we view social transformation as the center of our mission.
Our expertise lies in value addition in the food chain, climate change adaptation, and the economic empowerment of communities through table banking and cooperative schemes,” he said.
Rev. Sapit emphasized that proposed cuts to essentials like health, education, and food security do not offer hope to Kenyans. “If lawmakers pass punitive taxes that harm the electorate, the electorate will hold them accountable,” he warned.
Rev. Sapit highlighted specific concerns in the Finance Bill 2024 such as the taxation of sanitary towels, edible oils, and bread, and reiterated that cars are already taxed upon purchase and when fueling.
He criticized the rationale for additional taxes, stating, “We urge lawmakers to thoroughly read every section of the bill. We do not expect members of Parliament to claim ignorance, as some did with the Finance Bill 2023.”
Rev. Sapit also mentioned the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) recent advice to the government to make structural adjustments and halt new staff employment, which could diminish the taxable population.
He cautioned that the current proposals could make doing business in Kenya more expensive, leading to company closures and job losses. Additionally, he called for a focus on reducing waste and non-essential expenditures, including corruption and unnecessary trips abroad.
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