• Defence (CS) Aden Duale has expressed optimism in the ambitious route President William Ruto has taken to channel reforms in the nation
• Duale stated that President Ruto has a deliberate plan to deliver the nation from an economic crisis
• He censured the leaders opposing the Housing Levy proposed in the bill, arguing that they are beneficiaries of huge pension allowances starting at Ksh.30 million
Defence Cabinet Secretary (CS) Aden Duale has expressed optimism in the ambitious route President William Ruto has taken to channel reforms in the nation.
While defending the controversial Finance Bill 2023, Duale stated that President Ruto has a deliberate plan to deliver the nation from an economic crisis which is, unfortunately, being muddied by a few detractors who are inciting the public to be against it.
According to Duale, Kenyans will come to appreciate the efforts President Ruto is championing to transform the nation despite the harsh tax reforms being proposed in the contentious Bill.
“Every leader will be remembered. You have been given [mandate] to lead 50 million Kenyans and to decide for them the security of their livelihoods, roads water and everything else,” said Duale.
“You (Ruto) don’t blink. Just as Mzee Kibaki was remembered when he left office one day Kenyans will remember you that you were the first one to deliver them from slums where they don’t have a decent life.”
Duale was speaking during a church service at Leshuta in Narok County on Sunday.
He further censured the leaders opposing the Housing Levy proposed in the bill, arguing that they are beneficiaries of huge pension allowances starting at Ksh.30 million yet they are denying other Kenyans an opportunity to own their own properties.
“These leaders both in the Senate and National Assembly are all given Ksh.30 million to buy homes and the Speaker signs it. Other leaders, the likes of Kalonzo Musyoka and Raila Odinga live in Karen. How can you deny it and you take money from government to buy a home?” posed Duale.
“The government has a plan to give homes to those who don’t have any. There is alot of dishonesty and deceit in the whole issue of Housing Levy.”
Speaking at the same event, President Ruto termed the public contention around the bill as pretentious.
President Ruto said that Azimio La Umoja allied leaders opposing the bill are doing so just because they are in the opposition.
“Stop all the politicking around the housing levy. Even those in the opposition love the housing plan and if Azimio was in power, they would be saying what I am saying,” he said.
The 2023/2024 budget is set to be tabled before Parliament on June 15.
Meanwhile, the Azimio coalition has signaled to resume anti-government protests if the controversial bill 2023 is not reviewed, with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua asserting that the bill will pass in parliament as it is.