President Ruto at State House, Nairobi.
President William Ruto has signed into law the controversial Finance Bill 2023.
This is after the bill was passed by the National Assembly last week.
The Bill sailed through Parliament after a third reading where a number of amendments were proposed by MPs.
Kenyans will now have to dig deeper into their pockets to fund the government’s first budget.
The bill had 87 proposed amendments, some of which were approved last Tuesday as the National Assembly debated them late into the night.
Among the most amendments approved was a 16% value-added tax on gasoline, up from 8%.
This is after 184 MPs supported the proposal, while 88 MPs opposed it.
The contentious Housing levy, which had initially been proposed to be at 3 percent was also passed after it was amended to 1.5 percent of gross pay.
The initial proposal called for the levy to be a savings account that Kenyans could access after seven years but was later changed into a tax without a cap.
Digital creators will be subject to a 5% tax, from 15%.
Betting and insurance withholding taxes will be charged at 12.5% and 16%, respectively.
Meanwhile, Azimio la Umoja Coalition has maintained that it will hold its planned consultative meeting at Kamukunji grounds in Nairobi on Tuesday, following the passing of the controversial Finance Bill 2023.
According to Azimio, the Kenya Kwanza administration disregarded Kenyans, their feelings, fears, and hopes by imposing their agenda on them through the passage of the Bill.
A newsmaker, reporter and anchor at Pearl Radio, Ndalilah Sharon is witty and savvy.
She is also a firm believer of Christ.