Nairobi — In a united front, religious leaders across Kenya have expressed their staunch opposition to the proposed Finance Bill 2024, citing its potential to impose severe economic hardships on the populace. Meeting at Ufungamano House in Nairobi, the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK), a coalition encompassing various denominations, issued a press statement urging the government to reconsider the bill.
The Council's statement emphasized the moral and ethical implications of the bill, invoking sacred texts from the Bible, Quran, and Bhagavad Gita to underscore their argument.
"Woe to those that make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees," quoted from Isaiah 10:1-2, was used to highlight the injustice of the proposed legislation. The Quranic verse, "...And cooperate with one another in virtuous conduct and conscience, and do not cooperate with one another in sin and hostility," reinforced the call for ethical governance, while the Bhagavad Gita's message that "All souls are equal, and part of the family of God" underscored the need for fairness and equity.
Religious leaders voiced their solidarity with the Kenyan citizens, particularly the youth, who have been at the forefront of the protests against the bill. The Finance Bill 2024, which aims to introduce new taxes to raise an additional 346 billion shillings to the government's revenue projections, has faced widespread resistance. The Council pointed out that the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) would still collect 3.4 trillion shillings without the additional taxes proposed by the bill, questioning the necessity of the new measures.
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"We call on the government to engage in an honest discussion with Kenyans instead of resorting to scare tactics," reads the statement dated June 24.
The religious leaders condemned the government's approach, which they believe has exacerbated tensions and led to unnecessary violence.
"We are gravely concerned about the rising political temperatures and the disconnect between the government and the people of Kenya. The constitutionally guaranteed public demonstrations against the punitive taxes proposed in the Finance Bill 2024 have been met with excessive force by police, resulting in the tragic deaths of two young Kenyans," they lamented, calling for swift investigations by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
The Council praised the youth for their peaceful protests and emphasized that opposition to the Finance Bill 2024 is not limited to them alone: "Over 85% of Kenyans stand in solidarity with the youth. This is a national issue that affects us all."
Addressing President William Ruto, the Council urged the government to recognize the heavy burden already placed on Kenyans due to the high cost of living and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the bill and the elimination of its punitive tax measures.
"The government should not make life harder by introducing new taxes. On this basis, we call for the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024," they concluded.
The statement was signed by representatives from various religious bodies including the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya, Hindu Council of Kenya, Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, National Council of Churches of Kenya, Organization of African Churches, Seventh Day Adventist Church, Shia Asna Ashri Jamaat, Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims, and the National Muslim Leaders Forum.
