By Samuel Ouma
Kenyan opposition outfit Azimio La Umoja One Kenya alliance has called on Kenyans to desist from paying taxes in defiance of President William Ruto’s new taxes proposed in the Finance Act 2023.
In a statement read during a public rally held in Nairobi’s Kamukunji Ground, the outfit urged Kenyans to engage in public defiance, which will take many forms, including refusing to pay taxes.
“From today we embark on a campaign of defiance and civil disobedience which will take different forms at different times which will include refusal to pay taxes and whose aim is to force Mr Ruto’s punitive regime to go home,” read part of the statement.
As a response, Azimio announced a protest starting on Friday, July 7, Saba Saba Day. Saba Saba Day commemorates the day in 1990 when Kenyans protested for multiparty democracy; it is a special day in Kenyan history.
Raila Odinga-led coalition also announced that they will not engage in bi-partisan talks with the government, noting that Ruto’s administration has not shown good faith.
“Having imposed on us the punitive taxation measures contained in the Finance Act 2023, in complete disregard of our views, we declare an end to the talks to which we had sent our delegation in the hope that Kenya Kwanza will show interest in resolving the pro-people issues including the cost of living. It is time for action,” said the outfit.
Azimio la Umoja also said it will launch a signature-gathering effort to depose the existing government. They hope to collect at least one million signatures.
The outfit further said that it will launch a signature collection campaign to mark the withdrawal of our sovereignty from officials of an illegitimate regime, including Mr William Ruto and other elected politicians who backed the Finance Bill 2023. They hope to collect at least one million signatures.
On attacks aimed at the media by a section of government officials, the coalition stated that such actions threaten democracy and freedom of expression. It urged the government to stop harassing journalists and to enable the media to operate freely.
“We the people reject the Ruto regime’s blatant disdain for the media. We recognise the role of the media in society. It is ethically wrong for Ruto’s regime to treat the media with disdain,” stated Azimio.
Finally, the coalition stated that it is working with civil society groups to free the country from the existing administration.
