Kitui South MP Rachel Nyamai has sparked controversy with her recent claims that some demonstrators protesting against proposed taxes in the Finance Bill 2024 were primarily driven by a desire for TikTok fame rather than genuine concerns about the legislation.
Speaking during a parliamentary session on Wednesday, June 19, Nyamai recounted an encounter with a protester whom she had previously supported financially for education.
“Yesterday I watched a girl I have been paying fees for and she was in the streets and she had written a message to me the previous day,” Nyamai stated.
“I asked her, ‘you told me that it was about taxation on motor vehicles and bread, why are you in the streets?’ The girl told me that she was not in the streets concerning the Bill, that she was doing TikTok. She told me that she was there because she wanted to get views for TikTok.”
The MP, who voiced her backing for the Finance Bill and praised proposed amendments by the committee, emphasized the significance of addressing issues related to bread and motor vehicle taxation.
“I support Finance Bill 2024. I cannot be very happy with the budget, and at the same time pretend to be unhappy with the bill that is supposed to fund that budget. Proposals given by the Committee to amend are making this bill very good and highly acceptable.”
