Raila Vows to Resist Attempts by Ruto's Administration to Raise Taxes

Opposition leader Raila Odinga has fired a warning at President Ruto’s administration over its intent to impose more taxes on Kenyans.

Addressing the media in Nairobi on Thursday, Odinga said Kenyans cannot afford and should not be asked to pay extra taxes, adding that attempts to raise taxes will be met with resistance. 

“We are concerned about UDA’s plan to inflict more tax burdens on Kenyans and other pronouncements and promises made in recent days that are unrealistic,” Raila said. "Kenyans cannot afford and should not be asked to pay extra taxes for the UDA regime to realize their outlandish and unrealistic promises," he added.

He asked the government to shelve the proposed tax hike and instead devise other means to collect additional revenue.

“UDA must immediately shelve any thoughts of raising taxes on suffering Kenyans. Instead, UDA must improve revenue collection at all revenue collection points like customs, airports, registration of persons and VAT,” said Odinga.

Last week, President Ruto ordered the Kenya Revenue Authority to raise Sh3 trillion by the end of the 2022-2023 financial year and double its current collection in five years.

The president said every Kenyan citizen with a national identity card (ID) will be required to have a Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) pin number in order to increase tax income.

"There are only 7 million people with KRA pin numbers. At the same time, in the same economy, Safaricom’s MPesa has 30 million registered customers, transacting billions daily. The fact that this opportunity remains unclear to KRA demonstrates why radical changes are necessary. Every Kenyan with an ID should have a PIN number,” said Ruto.

"Technology and a considerate, fair, and professional mobilization will do the job quite well. Safaricom, a telco, has registered more people than KRA, a powerful state organization. It is very clear that the magic lies in technology and strategy, not in power and resources.”