Cabinet Secretary for Defence Aden Duale has commended President William Ruto for the government's unwavering support towards the Muslim community in Kenya.
This is after the state exempted the Muslim community from paying taxes on dates imported for the holy month of Ramadhan
In a statement on Wednesday, CS Duale expressed his gratitude towards Ruto during this year's expected Holy month of Ramadhan.
"This continued gesture of kindness is an affirmation of our belief in a unified nation of diverse religious practices as enshrined in the Constitution," he said.
The Supreme Council of Kenya Muslim had written to the CS requesting for the tax exemption on dates.
The request was made through its Secretary General Abdullahi Salat in a letter dated January 25, 2024.
As a result, Treasury CS Njuguna Ndung'u announced that the taxes due on the dates imported during Ramadhan will be on the government.
"To provide the same support of the Muslim Community the government has authorised that the dates imported and cleared during this year's Ramadhan period, be done without payment of taxes, import declaration fees and railway development levy," he said
With March 10 - April 4 expected to be the tentative Ramadhan period, dates imported and cleared between March 1 and April 20, 2024, will be considered for tax exemption.
As a result, KRA acting Deputy Commissioner Policy and International Affairs Lucy Ng'ang'a stated that dates to be considered for exemption must be imported and cleared between March 1, 2024 and April 20, 2024.
"The duty-free importation of the dates shall expire on April 20, 2024. Any such imports coming in thereafter shall attract the full duties, taxes, fees, and levies," she said in an internal memo on Monday.
In Islam, dates are considered a blessed fruit, and consuming them during Ramadan is believed to bring blessings and rewards, connecting individuals with their faith and the prophetic tradition.
