Why we will be joining protests against the Finance Bill in Nakuru city

GenZs in Nakuru have expressed their intent to join the nationwide demonstrations to protest against the Finance Bill 2024 planned for today.

The group which had been carrying out social media mobilisation yesterday (Wednesday) say they are ready for what they claim to be a one of a kind demonstration in Nakuru.

The youth feel unsatisfied with the government's concession move on some of the taxes and are pushing to have the whole bill thrown out.

Laura Mwaura a University student terms the move by the government to drop the levy on eco products, bread, cooking fat and motor vehicle inconsequential and of little impact to stop their protests plan.

Ms Mwaura says the action by the government is aimed at hoodwinking them to support the Bill which still has proposals that are harmful.

"What they dealt with was just a drop in the ocean. They want to dupe us into supporting the punitive proposals while missing out on important issues," she says.

According to her, the bill has at least 37 pages and removing tax on just a few does not solve the problem.

Her reasons to participate in today’s protests is to air her dissatisfaction on the representation by the MPs who she said have failed to push their interests.

"We are not going to wait until 2027 to teach these leaders a lesson when the punitive taxes are being passed now. We must stop them at the point of their inception," Laura adds.

She continues, "We ware peaceful protestors who only want change in the country's leadership. Let the police know that we are not goons and neither are we interested in vandalising people's property."

Elvis Mushila a content creator who is also actively involved in the mobilisation says the aim is to have the entire bill rejected and not amended.

He explains that it was important for Nakuru youths to join the demos in order to stand counted in the push for country's change.

"We are not going to fall for the MPs script where they intentionally included the levy on bread and motor vehicle only to drop it only to pass the more punitive silent proposals," says Mushila. 

He points out some of the proposals that the youth are against including the levy on wheel chairs, the withdrawal of Linda mama cover among others.

"This people are really taking us for fools, how do you overtax citizens in an economy that is growing at 5 percent rate. This is why we need to reject the entire bill," he says passionately.

The youth wrote three letters to the Police in Nakuru notifying them of the planned peaceful demonstrations within the town.

The youth will have at least four meeting points including Shabaab , Nyayo gardens, Railways and KFA round about before they proceed to statehouse, county assembly and the county administration offices.