NASA lawmakers meet Raila Odinga over 8pc fuel tax impasse

A section of MPs allied to the National Super Alliance are currently holed up in a meeting with party leader Raila Odinga over the proposed 8percent fuel tax.

The meeting at Orange House comes after President Uhuru Kenyatta proposed that the recently implemented 16percent tax on petroleum products be reduced by half.

Also Read: Raila, Kalonzo back Uhuru on reduction of fuel V.A.T

He returned the Finance Bill 2018 to Parliament to enable MPs deliberate on the matter. However, some NASA legislators criticised the move saying that the fuel tax should have been done away with altogether.

Minority Leader John Mbadi over the weekend indicated that they will be pushing for the tax to be scrapped.

His Majority counterpart Aden Duale then challenged him over whether he could drum up enough support for such a move.

On his part, Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi said the President must dissolve the Government over the impasse.

“The current Budget crisis is self-inflicted by Jubilee government due to lack of fiscal discipline.

“Given the escalating stalemate over the budget and taxation, President Uhuru Kenyatta ought to think out of the box. In situations of paralysis like this, governments resign or dissolve,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

Senate Minority Leader James Orengo on Monday told  ODM members of parliament to reject President Uhuru Kenyatta’s proposal to halve the fuel tax.