•The former presidential candidate also wants Cabinet Secretaries, Cabinet Administrative Secretaries, parastatal boards, top civil servants, deputy governors and county executive offices to follow suit.
Image: FILE
Thirdway Alliance party leader Ekuru Aukot has challenged President Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto and all the 47 governors to take a pay cut in the wake of the coronavirus.
The former presidential candidate also wants Cabinet Secretaries, Cabinet Administrative Secretaries, parastatal boards, top civil servants, deputy governors and county executive offices to follow suit.
“The pay cut will reduce the wage bill and redirect this money to cushion low income earners who are now working from home. At times like this, leaders ought to lead from the front and sacrifice for the welfare of the poor majority,” Aukot said in his open letter addressed to the President.
He opposed possible plans by the government for complete lockdown noting that the country’s economy will collapse.
“The corona virus pandemic is slowing down our economy and is going to negatively affect the cost of living, reduce our production as well as slow down growth of tax revenues. At all material times, the focus should be on the people,” he pointed out.
To cushion Kenyans from the hard economic times associated with the effects of the virus, Aukot said the national government should temporarily suspend funding of mega infrastructure projects.
Aukot also wants the government to use the outbreak to renegotiate repayment terms of all foreign loans.
He also want the government to immediately minimise or stop borrowing from local financial markets, saying this will force banks to lend to small and medium enterprises at affordable rates hence cushioning the economy.
“ Use part of savings to immediately create a pool fund where ordinary citizens can take mobile-based loans at peppercorn loan interests during this crisis. Ensure those funds are released immediately to credible commercial banks and availed through mobile money platforms,” he proposed.
Aukot has also called on the government to have National Insurance Fund pay for coronavirus related treatment bills, move the income tax return submission deadline from end of June to end of August and to ensure there are adequate staple food reserves, water, soap and set aside funds to subsidise food prices in the event the crisis deepens.
Other things Aukot wants the government to do is provide money to the National Oil Corporation and order that they buy substantial oil.
“If the economy is driven to the ground, the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic will be dire. So there must be found an equilibrium between keeping the economy running, keeping the government services open and running so that the economy can run and the people do not feel deserted," Aukot said.
He said failing to act could lead to unrest.