Editor's Review

  • Four roads will be closed down today afternoon ahead of budget2021/2022 reading by Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani.

A section of road within the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) will be closed on Thursday afternoon to facilitate ease of movement during the reading of the budget.

A statement issued indicated that Parliament road, Harambee avenue, Taifa road and City Hallway will be closed from 1 pm to 5.30 pm.

Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani defended the government's borrowing, saying that if it doesn't do so, it will have to tax Kenyans more.

"Our debt ceiling is within the ceiling we set for ourselves, the scope is narrowing," he said.

The budget estimate is set at Ksh3.6 trillion, and with the government allegedly "broke", the burden of the cost of the budget is set to fall on members of the public.

Members of the public along with a section of leaders have raised concerns over the high taxes which have continued to cripple the business community in Kenya while oppressing the low-income earners.

Ndhiwa Member of Parliament Martin Owino opposed the Treasury's move to increase taxes on essential commodities.

He urged CS Yatani to broaden the tax scope beyond excise tax, and Value Added Tax (VAT), and enable rich individuals and companies to pay more taxes as well.

"This small man needs a space to breathe and pay taxes later. We cannot do more taxes on basic commodities. You will strangle people and they will not be able to pay.

"Even SMEs, give them tax breaks. That is how you build the economy. But taxing them so that you have money which will not even trickle back to them, you are killing the tax base," Owino stated.