Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has spoken about the contentious finance bill, stating that despite having reservations about certain clauses, she intends to vote in favor of it.
Addressing her TikTok followers, Passaris began by dismissing her critics, expressing frustration with the persistent threats from constituents warning her of potential loss of her seat in the 2027 elections.
Passaris, who supported the 2023 finance bill along with many other legislators, directly addressed her detractors, urging them to set aside their threats. She affirmed her commitment to supporting initiatives that she believes are aimed at benefiting Kenyans.
“Don’t threaten me with 2027 with the one you’re going to vote for. You don’t even know whether you will be alive by then. If your only agenda in 2027 is to vote me out, remember there’s gonna be many people who will want to vote me in,” she emphatically stated.
“You only have one vote. I was elected by other 750,000 people. So don’t give me these threats all the time.”
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Passaris acknowledged that some Kenyans had labeled her a ‘traitor’ for backing the previous finance bill. Nevertheless, she emphasized her determination to continue supporting the forthcoming bill, even if solely for the sake of ensuring a functional Kenya.
“Those of you who keep calling me ‘Msaliti’ because I voted for the finance bill, well, there’s gonna be another one coming and even though there’s some issues I may disagree with, I’m gonna vote for the finance bill,” she said.
Passaris highlighted that the government requires funds to supply hospitals with medications, build roads, upgrade schools, relocate displaced individuals, address the flood crisis, and improve the livelihoods of Kenyans. This necessity, she argued, justifies the imposition of high taxes.
“We are going to try and make sure that the finance bill is going to be less harsh on the people but remember, we are a country that is in a bad space,” she said.
The lawmaker also directed criticism towards those who accused her of aligning too closely with the government despite being an opposition MP and having affiliations with Raila Odinga.
Expressing her admiration for President Ruto, Passaris admitted to admiring his administration, clarifying that her support for Raila Odinga did not equate to hostility towards the current government.
“(Just because) I’m in Azimio and I’m a Baba Girl, I also admire Ruto, I admire the President, so get with it. I don’t give a crap what you think. Just because I’m in Baba’s party, doesn’t mean I have to hate Ruto. I love the President, I love the way he does things,” she confessed.
Passaris cited one of the reasons for her admiration for the President as his recent act of compassion towards Tinsley Nduta, a young schoolgirl who gained widespread attention after a video of her expressing concerns about the reopening of schools went viral on TikTok. Ruto’s gesture of calling Nduta demonstrated a level of empathy and responsiveness that Passaris found commendable.
“These kind of things happen very rarely and when they happen they are very special. She will never forget this,” Passaris said.
The Finance Bill, 2024 was released on May 9 and is scheduled for public participation. This bill encompasses tax proposals aimed at generating revenue to fund the ambitious projects of the Kenya Kwanza government.
One of the proposals within the Finance Bill, 2024 is the introduction of a Motor Vehicle Tax, set at a rate of 2.5 per cent of the vehicle’s value.
