- The CS also wants tax added on eyelashes, switches and other beauty products including artificial nails.
- Another one said that women and men should embrace their natural looks and let go of the fake hair, beard.
On Thursday, the National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung'u proposed a five per cent tax on wigs, false beards, and eyebrows.
The CS also wants tax added on eyelashes, switches, and other beauty products including artificial nails.
The Bill which has been tabled in Parliament outlines the various revenue-raising measures by the government to finance the 2023/24 budget.
The proposal has received mixed reactions, with Kenyans urging the Kenya Kwanza to mostly focus on commodities like cigarettes, alcohol, and others.
"Kwa Kweli, the wig I am wearing right now, I bought it three years ago, and I only wear it during bad hair days, it is not an everyday affair and imposing more tax on it will only harm the business as most customers come ones in a while to purchase them," Caroline Owour, a wig seller at the Nairobi CBD told The Star.
To maintain the wig, Caroline said it is normally washed and returns to its glory.
She added that she is yet to clear her 2022 stock, as the business is still getting back to its feet after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Men who spoke to The Star said the move to impose an increased tax on beauty products is a good one, as they are not a basic commodity.
"No one needs a wig, or fake beard to survive, in fact, tax should not be added on the daily used commodities, it is safe to say that the proposed tax is a bit low," a Nairobi man said.
Another one said that women and men should embrace their natural looks and let go of fake hair and beard.
"We are all created in the image of God, the wigs, eyelashes and fake beards won't in any way enhance the beauty, it is actually destroying the natural beauty," posed another man.
Mercy Wambui, however, disagreed with the men saying that the wigs and fake nails enhance the beauty of women and most of them earn a living from having wigs on, as commercial models.
"This now means affording a wig in Kenya will be a task, if we can't afford meals at home, at least let have look good on the streets," she said.