By JULIUS MBALUTO 

The Kenya Budget for the financial year 2024/25 was presented on Thursday by the Finance Mister Njuguna Ndung'u. The key highlights of the budget was the budget deficit seen at 3.3% of GDP in 2024/25, economic growth projected at 5.5% and lastly outcry of over taxation measures accompanying the budget.

Prior to the budget, Kenyans had organized to oppose the Finance Bill 2024 on social media. Majority of MPs had to switch off their phones to avoid thousands of calls and texts demanding that they reject Finance Bill 2024 and urging them to vote "No".

MPs telephone numbers had been leaked online on X platform by a user knowns as Amerix who also urged Kenyans to load their phones with enough bundles and calls or text their MPs. Slogans used were, "I'm not a citizen of IMF" and Respect my hustle. It went on telling Kenyans to tell their MPs to reject Finance Bill 2024. 

Kenyans were sending MPs little money to confirm whether those were actual numbers. This was a social media riot. Some MPs have said it isn't the entire Finance Bill 2024 which is wrong but it will be worth to debate and if need be rewrite it and remove the things that seems to upset Kenyans. For example, Kenyans don't want to be taxed any further  than they already are. 

Kenyans want proposals like Exercise tax on bread, the eco-levy on diapers and sanitary pads and Motor vehicle circulation tax removed. Some MPs have said there shouldn't be any further taxation on Kenyans but instead, government should cut on wastage and tackle corruption. There are several businesses which have threatened to leave Kenya because of heavy taxation.

Manufacturers in Kenya have threatened to leave Kenya for Tanzania if heavy taxation is not stopped. Cooking has been also heavily taxed. Manufacturers have told the government that it should check the morality of taxation food.