No country can tax itself out of poverty - Esther Passaris

Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has said that no country can tax itself out of poverty.

According to the legislator, what Kenyans need more is the cushioning against the hard economic times.

"No country can tax itself out of poverty. There is urgent need to cushion Kenyans against these ravaging hard economic times," Passaris said on Monday.

Her remarks come at a time the country is charged on the debate on tax collection.

President William Ruto has insisted that all Kenyans must pay tax, in what has largely been seen as him going after families of the first and second presidents of the country over estate levy duty that they were exempted from.

Ruto's ally and Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei last week filed a proposal at the Senate to amend the Act that exempts Kenya's first President Jomo Kenyatta and his successor Daniel Moi's families from estate duty levy.

"This section should be replaced by inserting the following words, that this section shall not apply to the disabled, minorities and marginalised as provided by the relevant law," the letter reads.

The aforementioned Act is in section 7 (3) of the Estate Duty Act CAP 483.

The tax debate has seen an exchange of words between the government and the opposition.

“Everybody, whether they are short or tall, rich or poor, whether they are known or not known, everybody will have to pay tax in Kenya,” Ruto said in Ruai.

“That is why I have said, Kenya is not an animal farm. We are all equal before the law. And I am now happy that all Kenyans have agreed there are no more tax waivers,” he said.

Raila hit back claiming, "Tax cheats and all sorts of criminals are with Ruto in his government.

"But he is pretending to be looking for criminals outside his government," Raila said at a well-attended rally in his Kibera backyard.

Former first lady, Mama Ngina Kenyatta has, however, rubbished the claims by Ruto allies.