The taxes Kenyans are currently paying are not a product of the Kenya Kwanza administration, former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero has said.
In an interview with K24 TV on Wednesday, Kidero stated that the 16 per cent Value Added Tax(VAT) on fuel currently being charged was in force but was kept at 8 per cent to cushion Kenyans from the Covid pandemic.
"The levies have been there even though they are spelt out in all the acts, whether is the road or fuel," he said.
The former governor also alleged that the opposition leaders who are supposed to keep the government in check are not doing their work.
According to Kidero if some of the levies can be rationalised even by a shilling or two it will go a long way in alleviating the pressure on Kenyans.
The higher taxes on petroleum have been controversial and the previous administration avoided raising it by introducing subsidies to cushion consumers.
Also speaking on the issue of taxation on November 2, 2023, Thirdway Alliance party leader Ekuru Aukot claimed that high taxation is killing enterprises and forcing businesses to close down
"Raising heavy taxes is wrong. It is killing enterprises, making Kenyans poor, collapsing businesses, and generating stress and anger among Kenyans," Aukot said.
Since Ruto became President, several taxes have been imposed on Kenyans including a 1.5 per cent housing levy on gross salaries, a 5 per cent withholding tax on local digital content creators, and a turnover tax on enterprises making gross sales of between Sh1-Sh25 million.
Some 16 per cent value-added tax on petroleum products, excise duty on gaming and betting and Pay-As-You-Earn tax bands at 32.5 per cent and 35 per cent for income between Sh500,000 and Sh800,000 a month and income above Sh800,000 respectively.
