President Ruto Says Tax Evaders are Sponsoring Raila’s Public Rallies

President Ruto has accused unnamed tax evaders of sponsoring the recent public rallies by Azimio la Umoja leaders led by Raila Odinga.

Stating that no Kenyan will be exempted from paying taxes, the president said Kenya is not an animal farm where some animals are more equal than others.

“Even if they [tax evaders] sponsor demonstrations so that they do not pay tax, I want to promise them that they will pay tax, there are no more exemptions,” he said without mentioning names.

 “I’m not talking about additional taxes, I’m talking about taxes that have been agreed upon by parliament and signed into law,” he added.

The president spoke in Mombasa, where he presided over the National Assembly's Post-Election Seminar 2023 in collaboration with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).

“This country is not the animal farm where some are more equal than others, we are going to have a society where every citizen carries their fair share of our burden to raise our taxes,” he said.

On Sunday, Azimio leaders castigated President Ruto’s administration for imposing “punitive and unjust” taxes on Kenyans.

While urging Kenyans to resist paying such taxes, Odinga likened Ruto to the biblical tax collector Zacchaeus, who is known for his unethical and exploitative practices.

“We ask that all Kenyans demand the removal of these punitive taxes. There will be no taxation without representation,” Raila said during a rally at Jacaranda grounds in Nairobi.

Odinga said he will hold nationwide rallies to demand electoral justice and oppose President Ruto's administration.

"This is not about me, it is about the youth, women, children, disabled and the old. Kenyans must be able to go to an election, the ballots must be counted and results announced as per results counted," he said.