Wundanyi MP Danson Mwashako expressed disappointment after Parliament leadership passed President Uhuru Kenyatta's proposed 8% VAT on fuel products on Thursday September 21.
The ODM lawmaker was among other several Coast MPs who opposed the Bill, saying it would greatly affect lives of ordinary Kenyans.
"Those who supported the VAT on Petrol and a raft of other increases of taxes on essential services and products that affect Kenyans directly, shame on you," he said.
The lawmaker explained why he opposed the Bill as indicated below:
1. Any change in the price of Petroleum directly affects the cost of living.
2. Levying Sh18 on kerosene on top of VAT, as anti adulteration tax to make the price of kerosene match that of diesel, will definitely make life unbearable for poor Kenyans who depend on it for cooking and lighting.
3. Ironically after increasing taxes on kerosene, we reduced the budgetary allocation for the following programmes: Last mile power connectivity, installation of transformers to constituencies, street lighting and funding for affordable cooking gas "Mwananchi gas".
4. With this reduction, we defeat the call to stop charcoal burning, and therefore a blow to environmental conservation.
5. Airtime, money transfer and data cost will also go up. Sadly still hitting on wanjiku.
6. 1.5% housing fund deduction from all salaried Kenyans. Most employees survive barely on a third of their pay after deducting commitments. Now the same payslip is being subjected to another 1.5% deduction.
President Kenyatta already signed the Bill into law but a section of MPs have vowed to file a case in court to stop its implementation.
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