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Source: The Africa REPORT.
Kenya President William Ruto is facing heavy criticism from the opposition, who accuse him of politicising his government’s campaign to compel all Kenyans to pay taxes, by targeting former president Uhuru Kenyatta and his family.
Led by Azimio la Umoja (One Kenya) coalition leader Raila Odinga, the opposition has told Ruto – who they have nicknamed ‘Zacchaeus the tax collector’ – to desist from targeting the former first family, and leave the campaign to the Kenya Revenue Authority.
“Let KRA do its work and stop politicising this matter. Leave Mama Ngina [Kenyatta’s mother] alone. Leave Uhuru Kenyatta alone,†Raila told supporters at a rally in Nairobi on Sunday.
“Tax cheats and all sorts of criminals are with Ruto in his government, but he is pretending to be looking for criminals outside his government,†Raila said.
Kenyatta’s mother, Ngina Kenyatta, who avoids the public eye, has since broken her silence to speak on Ruto’s accusations of tax evasion.
“There is no need for politicking. It is not true that I have not paid tax. They know they are not telling the truthâ€,†she said, adding that she is willing to have her property auctioned if it is revealed that she did not pay her taxes.
Kenyatta, for his part, told off Ruto saying: “Stop talking too much and focus on service delivery.â€
During the Nairobi rally on Sunday, Raila also told supporters that “if you inherit a dead man’s property you don’t pay taxâ€, as has been the case since 1982.
This, he said, also applies to the former head of state, who inherited wealth from his father, the late Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya’s first president after independence.
Ruto’s administration is reported to be investigating more than 300 companies, which are associated with powerful individuals in the previous governments, for tax evasion.
The individuals from the former regime are accused of sponsoring opposition rallies to avoid paying tax.
Ruto says he plans to save the country from debt, build a strong economic base and help finance its annual budget of Ksh 3.6trn ($2.8bn).
“We are all equal before the law and we will pay our taxes in accordance with our income,†said Ruto, responding to the opposition.
Ruto’s administration is reported to be investigating more than 300 companies, which are associated with powerful individuals in the previous governments, for tax evasion.
The individuals from the former regime are accused of sponsoring opposition rallies to avoid paying tax.
Ruto says he plans to save the country from debt, build a strong economic base and help finance its annual budget of Ksh 3.6trn ($2.8bn).
“We are all equal before the law and we will pay our taxes in accordance with our income,†said Ruto, responding to the opposition.
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