Ahmednasir to Ruto: Tax Collection is Fine But Kenyans Need Accountability

City Lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi has told President William Ruto that what Kenyans desire the most is accountability. 

On Friday, the flamboyant lawyer said the National Assembly has given President Ruto the budget he requested and it is now upon him to steer the country forward. Ahmednasir called on Ruto to explain to Kenyans how corrupt government officials will be punished if found to have stolen or mismanaged public coffers.

"Fine, Parliament has now given President Ruto his budget as he wanted. Let him tell Kenyans how those who steal from us will be punished. Let him tell us those who stole from us will be punished. Tax collection is fine... but Kenyans need accountability...every shilling," Ahmednasir said. 

His statement was in response to Ruto's campaign promise that all former public officials would be held responsible for any government resources that were misappropriated. Ruto's deputy Rigathi Gachagua has on many occasions claimed that they found nothing in the government coffers when they took over power from former President Uhuru Kenyatta. Meanwhile, Ruto's lieutenants continue to blame the dismal financial situation on the misappropriation of funds by public servants and the reliance on loans from the previous administration.

On Finance Bill 2023, Ahmednasir believes that Kenyans' opposition to the proposed taxes arises from Ruto's failure to accomplish his campaign promises.  According to Ahmednasir "The resistance was because Ruto (a) has refused to address the emptying of public coffers by the Uhuru administration (b) Ruto has not implemented one single reform, especially in the justice and law and order (c) The state of the country is same as he vigorously campaigned against (d) decay and decomposition of important institutions like the judiciary isn't addressed,"