Governor Abdulswamad Nassir has welcomed the proposed amendments by the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning to some controversial clauses of the Finance Bill, 2024, ahead of its tabling on Tuesday.
Speaking at Ronald Ngala Primary School Grounds on Monday during the Eid-ul-Adha prayer, Governor Nassir urged MPs to sacrifice for the sake of the country by taking into consideration the proposals of the public in the Finance Bill, 2024.
“I have been informed that the National Assembly Finance Committee has proposed amendments to clauses in the Finance Bill, 2024. I have been reliably informed the committee will table its recommendation on Tuesday,” said Governor Nassir.
“It is important for our legislators to read the committee recommendation. They should also consult their constituents in the debate. It is also vital to follow a party position. Go through that committee report to discern if what Kenyans proposed has been incorporated,” he added.
The Governor also waded into the One Man, One Shilling discourse, saying each county has a right to shareable revenue.
He said though Mombasa is one of the top contributors to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and highly populated, it would be selfish to support the One Man, One-Shilling proposal to the disappointment of the neighbouring counties of Lamu, Tana River, Kwale, among others.
Governor Nassir argued that the highly populated counties championing One Man, One Shilling are ahead in numbers but not in revenue to the GDP.
“The basis of revenue sharing has many factors. One factor we want to ensure is what you bring to the table. There is the issue of poverty level, but in places like Mombasa, there is the issue of urban index,” said Governor Nassir.
On Muguka, the Governor said he has no fight against any county or leaders of Muguka-growing areas in his stance on the stimulant.
“It is statistically proven that it is affecting our young people. We have all levels of evidence that 30 per cent of consumers of Muguka in Mombasa are children below the age of 18 years,” he said.
“When we stand firm, we know. The problems that are there today were caused by the inaction of yesterday, and if we fail to take action today, tomorrow is going to be worse than today,” he added.
On his part, Mvita MP Mohamed Machele urged Muslims who are well off to remember the less fortunate in society as they celebrate Eid-ul-Adha.
Machele, a member of the Finance and National Planning Committee, said they have concluded public participation and the report will be tabled on Tuesday.
“After tabling, there are two to three days of amendments and debate in the National Assembly. We will read it and follow our party position,” said Machele, lauding the public for taking part in the public participation and for urging their Members of Parliament to consider the public opinion on the bill.
By Sadik Hassan
