- “Where the proceeds from taxes and savings from scrapped subsidies are going?”
- “How can it be that we scrapped subsidies, increased taxes, continued to borrow, only for our financial situation to get worse?”
Image: FILE
The Opposition has called for a probe into the Kenya Revenue Authority following delays by the government to pay salaries.
National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi said the probe should be extended to individuals and systems at the National Treasury and Central Bank of Kenya with a view to establishing what has gone wrong.
“We need to take a close and thorough look at the goings-on at revenue collection points and revenue sources like Kenya Airports Authority, the courts, customs, National Social Security Fund (NSSF), aids and grants and revenue administration in addition to probing government spending,” he stated.
In a statement, Wandayi said it would not be right to let the government blame the situation on Covid-19, the war in Ukraine and the general economic meltdown around the globe.
“Where the proceeds from taxes and savings from scrapped subsidies are going?” he posed.
“How can it be that we scrapped subsidies, increased taxes, and continued to borrow, only for our financial situation to get worse?”
Wandayi said Azimio believes cash flow problems have been caused by corruption, tribalism, nepotism, incompetence and plain theft at critical revenue collection points.
“The easy conclusion is that the criminals at KRA are collecting and pocketing taxes as the incompetents at National Treasury also skim off the revenue while failing to come up with sound policies for cash flow,” he stated.
He stated that for the first time since independence in 1963, the government of Kenya is unable to pay salaries to civil servants and Members of Parliament.
“Nearly all civil servants don't know when or if they will ever be paid. The situation has been degenerating progressively since December last year,” he stated.
Wandayi said only members of the security services-police and military-have been paid.
“..but it won't be long before members of the disciplined forces also begin missing salaries if we continue this way,” he added.
The Minority Leader added that Parliament needs to conduct an inquiry into the financial and economic crisis building up in the country.
“Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party is deeply concerned at the worsening economic situation in the country that has seen the government unable to meet one of its most basic of obligations; which is paying its workers,” Wandayi said.
He pointed out that counties have also not received revenue from the National Treasury for at least four months now.
“Both national and county governments are struggling to pay salaries and service delivery is getting compromised with every passing month,” he said.
Wandayi warned that soon, even parastatals will not be able to operate.
He added that the government owes state agencies Sh204 billion while the counties are demanding Sh92.5 billion which is the equitable share for the months of January, February, and March 2023.