Raila Warns of Ruto's Plan to Suffocate Hustlers

Opposition leader Raila Odinga has said that Ruto's administration intends to treat beauty as unnecessary extra indulgence. 

Raila's statement comes as a confrontation to the Finance Bill, 2023, which proposes an increase in taxes on beauty products like wigs and eyelashes from Sh0.6 to Sh2.5 per stamp. The Azimio leader praised the beauty industry for employing many Kenyans who would otherwise remain unemployed. He issued his statement on Monday while at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation, Nairobi. 

"Beauty industry has become a major employer, particularly of our youth and women who have been unable to find work elsewhere," he said.  

Mr Odinga has criticised Ruto for interrupting the earnings of hustlers, a section which Ruto targeted in his 2022 Presidential election campaigns. Raila stated that they will purpose to see the Bill yield. Also, he called upon Kenyans to go through the bill for a comprehensive understanding. 

"We disagree, it shall not pass," he declared. 

The Azimio leader said that he has instructed Azimio MPs to negate the tax proposal presented by the bill. Raila has warned that the Bill will suppress Kenyans through the biting taxes fronted. He termed the Bill as a punishment to Kenyans, a tightrope that will strangle hustlers to financial instability. 

"The Tsunami of taxes in that Bill will bury everyone, especially the jobless youth and the poor struggling down at the bottom. The Bill is a promissory note to strangle and suffocate the hustlers that Ruto promised to remove the rope from their necks," Raila said.  
 
The Bill tabled in Parliament has fronted a 5% tax on beauty products in a desperate move to fund Sh 6 trillion 2023/24 Budget.