Editor's Review

Narok Senator Ledama Olekina now says that Kenyans should not blame President William Ruto over the high taxes proposed in the Finance Bill 2023.

Narok Senator Ledama Olekina now says that Kenyans should not blame President William Ruto over the high taxes proposed in the Finance Bill 2023. 

Ledama in a statement on Monday, May 8 stated that Members of Parliaments are the ones who are responsible for the increased taxes. 

The ODM senator argued that MPs should come out to defend Kenyans over high taxes instead of agreeing with the Executive. 

“Don’t blame William Ruto for high taxes blame your members of parliament! When the fuel tax goes to 16% blame your MPs. When civil servants are taxes 3% for housing blame your MPs They are the ones who are gullible. Instead of saying No, they say yes to everything that Ruto wants,” Ledama tweeted.

File image of Treasury CS Njuguna Ndung'u.

The chairperson of President William Ruto’s Council of Economic Advisors David Ndii on Sunday told Kenyans who are criticizing the Finance Bill 2023 to sit down and write an alternative budget. 

“People with issues with Finance Bill, sit down, write an alternative budget that cushions external shocks without IMF, brings down deficit with no tax measures. And do the numbers. As Sam Rayburn said Any jackass can kick down a barn but it takes a carpenter to build one,” said Ndii.

The Finance Bill 2023 is proposing a 35 percent income tax on all Kenyans earning above five hundred thousand shillings.

It also proposes 3 percent deductions on all employees’ basic salary towards the National Housing Development Fund, which will be matched by another 3 percent from the employer.