Finance Bill 2024: What next for Kenyans?

A wave of betrayal cascades in the hearts of Kenyans as the recent polls show a stunning 64% of MPs voted yes to the passing of the 2024 finance bill.

This is despite Kenyans, particularly Gen Z, taking to the streets to speak out against the proposed bill which they term oppressive.

This move, which was radicalized through the social media platform X, and later picked up on other social media platforms, is aimed to put pressure on their respective Members of Parliament to vote down the Bill.

The Government, in response to public outcry, has retracted several contentious proposals from the Finance Bill. These proposals, which included a 16 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) on bread, financial services, and foreign exchange transactions, will not be presented in the National Assembly as initially planned. 

The decision was announced after a meeting at State House Nairobi, involving President William Ruto and members of parliament from the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition.

This, however, does not seem to satisfy the protesters as they stand united adamant that the Kenyan government throw away the entire bill vowing to continue with protests until their demands are fully met. The overriding message of rejecting the Finance Bill, which was carried under the #RejectFinanceBill2024 hashtag, was to reject the bill in totality.

“Anywhere in the world, where there’s injustice there will be protests. Suffering people could never be ignored. And there is no power, like people’s power…together we make the change. Fight. Stand up for your rights! Lawyers ndaani,” one protestant tweeted.

Furthermore, the church has been put in question with its passivity and silence approach to this matter.

“Where is the CHURCH in all this??? “???????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????” a tweet said.

As the country applauds Gen Z for the bold move to stand up against the oppressive policies being imposed on Kenyans, the question looming at the back of everyone’s head is, “What Next? When Does it End?”