Eric Omondi to lead content creators in protesting against proposed taxes
Content creators, led by comedian Eric Omondi, are planning to hold protests over the 15 per cent withholding tax proposed in the Finance Bill 2023.
This has been revealed by Lang’ata MP Phelix Odiwour aka Jalang’o, who at the same time said he has had a difficult time in trying to argue the case of content creator to the parliamentary committee on broadcasting.
Jalang’o has however faulted the content creators over the development saying he has no defence for them since they are well known for their flashy lifestyles.
“You people brought this to yourself and I’m not lying to you, the government will not relent. What we need to do is come together and ask ourselves how much we are willing to make to pay or how do we tell them that maybe sometimes we are just flossing,” Jalang’o said.
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Among the harshest critics of the proposed taxation of content creators is Eric Omondi who has blamed President William Ruto’s administration of making empty promises to Kenyans.
Omondi, who has in the past staged street protests, has been blaming the government over the high cost of living, the proposed housing levy and the withholding tax.
“I want to call out the Kenya Kwanza government because we heard them on the campaign trail where they promised Kenyans cheaper life, a better life, and an easier life. We are having the wrong conversation; we are talking about housing. The discussion should be about the high cost of living,” Omondi said on Citizen TV this week.
Also read: Jalang’o to content creators: Your flashy lifestyles is why you should pay taxes
This year, the self-proclaimed president of comedy has been arrested several times for holding protests in Nairobi and Kisumu.
During the protests in Kisumu, Omondi and fellow protesters blocked Jomo Kenyatta while lying on mattresses, forcing anti-riot police officers to lob teargas and to arrest some of the protesters.
Before that, Omondi had been arrested on the streets of Nairobi in early April while leading protests against the high cost of living in the country. Omondi was arrested him as he attempted to address a small crowd on Kenyatta Avenue.
In late February, he lead a group of bare-chested protesters in similar protests leading to his arrest and arraignment in court.
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