MP Babu Owino Pens Letter to President Uhuru Pleading with Him to Save Kenyans from Hard Times

Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has pleaded with President Uhuru Kenyatta to save Kenyans from the high cost of living likely to be caused by hiked fuel prices.

In an open letter, Owino urged the Head of State to sign the Finance Bill 2018 passed by National Assembly last Thursday and save Kenyan citizens from difficult times.

Owino has asked the President to find innovative ways of cutting down public expenditure and wastage instead of imposing high taxes on Kenyans.

“I note that during your visit to the US, it was made public that your government is borrowing the sum equivalent of Ksh.450 billion for the construction of a six lane highway from Mombasa to Nairobi,” writes the former Students’ Organization of Nairobi University (SONU) boss in the letter.

“I further note that in your visit to China, your government has taken on a further Ksh.380 billion in debt for the construction of Phase 2A of the Standard Gauge Railway from Naivasha to Kisumu. This totals close to a trillion shillings in new debt in the span of ten days.”

The ODM MP termed the new levy on petroleum products as illegal since Parliament had previously voted to amend the Finance Bill and postpone the implementation of the proposed 16 percent VAT on fuel.

“Parliament is the supreme law making organ of the land as per the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and as such any attempt by the Executive to levy a tax not approved by the August House is both illegal and unconstitutional,” notes Owino.

“I therefore take this opportunity to request you to assent to the Finance (Amendment) Bill 2018 and save our people from the difficult times such a tax promises.”

“We as Parliament have read the mood of the people and realized that the Bill as initially proposed would portend untold suffering amongst the most vulnerable in our society. Our people are already overburdened with the high cost of living. The introduction of such a tax at this time would only serve to make their lives more unbearable,” he adds.