WANJIRU GIKONYO: Glaring accountability deficits in Ruto’s economic plan

With a welcome commitment to slash Sh300 billion by curbing wasteful government spending, if he can succeed in taming internal government cartels, that will be a win indeed!

The proposals for a just tax system are equally welcome. However, the proposal to increase the excise on alcohol calls for debate.

This is because the social impact of expensive beer appears to be pushing drinkers, especially the youth towards spirits.

Tax policy should not be used to advance a moral agenda that might inadvertently be fuelling alcoholism in Kenya.

The commitment to review excessive taxation on trade, especially the informal sector is equally welcome, as is the plan to increase national savings and investments.

This calls for fiscal discipline and accountability, whereas recent directives on the banking rules and CID roles appear to weaken the financial oversight.

President William Ruto also needs to prioritise sealing off illicit revenue expenditure areas and strengthening internal audits, the key to which is building a public service based on integrity.

Investment gaps in the water sector are to be met through private investment.

Are we talking about privatizing water? How will we ensure equitable affordable water to low-income areas?

How will we ensure transparency in the contracting process to ensure pricing tariffs are competitive and to curb the masked interests of a growing plutocracy that has its roots in political office?

On CDF, the President calls on MPs to review the act to align to the court ruling, but in the same breath promises senators their own fund, contrary to the Supreme Court ruling.

It is indeed time to review the CDF to retain its transformative power but ensure it respects the architecture of devolution.

Furthermore, parliament commands a massive annual budget which is more than adequate for the oversight functions of the house if well prioritised.

The undoing of the president’s noble plans is the accountability deficits in his cabinet picks, which stand in violation of the social contract upon which government derives the right to tax Kenyans.

To place the hard-earned taxes of Kenyans into the hands of individuals who have unresolved cases of abuse of public office is the ultimate insult to hard-working Kenyans.

Accountability is a central pillar of a just tax system, and so Ruto needs to go back to the drawing board on his cabinet picks.

 

The writer is the outgoing National Coordinator of The Institute for Social Accountability. She can be reached on wanjiru.gikonyo@ tisa.or.ke