Raila censures Ruto’s government over a proposal to increase taxes
Raila censures Ruto’s government over a proposal to increase taxes and contributions towards the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
On Thursday, Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Coalition criticized President William Ruto’s administration for its plan to boost individual Kenyans’ contributions to the National Social Security Fund while maximizing tax collection (NSSF).
In a press conference, Raila said that the increase would put an additional burden on the average citizen. She was surrounded by co-principals of Azimio.
According to him, the high cost of living was a result of rising costs for necessities, which had an impact on taxpayers.
“We are particularly 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 stated.
“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.
Raila stated that Azimio was committed and prepared to honour its campaign promises without increasing taxes, had it won the election.
He also dismissed claims made by Kenya Kwanza administration officials that their country had a failing economy when they took office.
He insisted that tax increases shouldn’t be justified by the state of the economy.
The late former president Mwai Kibaki’s NARC government, according to the leader of the Orange Democratic Movement Party, revived Kenya’s economy without raising tax rates.
Raila also cited the period after the 2008 post-election violence when the Grand Coalition government achieved accelerated growth of the economy without raising taxes.
The statement by Raila came amid intensified calls by President Ruto to enhance Kenya’s ability to raise funds for its expenditure as opposed to the usual borrowing craze.
“We intend to cut on borrowing but we must increase the revenue we collect to be able to undertake development,” Ruto stated in an interdenominational church service in Murang’a.
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