- The President and his allies claim the sponsors are people who previously enjoyed tax freedom by virtue of their position in government and want to continue exempting themselves from that obligation.
- But Sifuna questioned how logical that could be that by merely sponsoring a rally, you would end up not paying tax.
Image: FILE
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has poured cold water on claims by President William Ruto that some individuals are sponsoring Azimio rallies to avoid paying taxes.
The President and his allies claim the sponsors are people who previously enjoyed tax freedom by virtue of their position in government and want to continue exempting themselves from that obligation.
But Sifuna questioned how logical that could be that by merely sponsoring a rally, you would end up not paying tax.
"Explain to me how funding a rally gets one exempted from paying tax. Also how much do you clowns think it costs to hold a rally in Nairobi for one to need a sponsor? he posed.
He was reacting to assertions by UDA senators and MCAs that former President Uhuru Kenyatta is the one financing Azimio rallies with the hope that he will be exempted from Tax.
In his address on Monday during a National Assembly seminar in Mombasa, Ruto stated categorically that all Kenyans must pay taxes.
Without directly mentioning Uhuru’s name, Ruto said some people who were in power used state instruments to avoid paying taxes, something he said will not happen on his watch.
"Every citizen must pay tax. It doesn’t matter even if they sponsor demonstrations so that they don’t pay tax. I promise them they will pay tax. There is no more exemption,” Ruto said.
His remarks came hours after his allies directly accused Uhuru of sponsoring anti-government meetings to avoid taxation pressure.
Ruto said Kenya is a country of equals where every citizen must bear their tax obligation without fail.
"This country is not the animal farm where some are more equal than others. We are going to have a society where every citizen carries [his or her] fair share of our burden to raise taxes,” he said.
Sifuna wondered if the alleged tax exemption ploy Uhuru purported to be pushing by sponsoring Azimio rallies is the same privilege he enjoyed when he sponsored the Jubilee party in which Ruto was a co-principal.
"Alafu huyu Uhuru aki sponsor rally za Jubilee na Ruto from 2012 to 2017 alikua analipa hii tax?" he posed.
(And when Uhuru and Ruto were sponsoring Jubilee rallies from 2012 to 2017, was he paying tax?)
Uhuru on Tuesday Uhuru downplayed the apparent tax onslaught and exuded confidence that its hot air.
"Na wewe Steve usijali hii watu wanapiga mdomo, wacha wapige bwana. Unajua mtu ambaye hana kitu ingine ya kufanya lazima apige mdogo, wacha wapige bwana, hiyo ni ya dunia, sisi tunaendelea na yetu," Uhuru said.
(And you Steve, don't mind these people making noise, let them shout. You know someone who has nothing else to do must make noise, let them, that's life, as for us we will continue with our plans)
He was reacting to concerns by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka who wondered why anyone would want to victimise the former president.
They spoke when they visited late Education CS George Magoha's family in Lavington, Nairobi.