Hustler Base Disillusioned as President Ruto Implements Tax Hikes
Eighty percent of voters in this constituency in the heart of Kenya’s tea country voted for William Ruto in the August 2013 presidential election, helping the self-proclaimed champion of impoverished “hustlers” to an unexpected victory.
Less than a year later, it is difficult to find anyone in Githunguri who will defend him.
Since Ruto’s election, the cost of food staples has continued to rise. Ruto has also been criticized for increasing allocations to his and the vice president’s offices while reducing gasoline subsidies.
Now, a proposal to increase taxes on gasoline and housing is fueling the strongest backlash to date and energizing an opposition whose protests this year have resulted in repeated clashes with police on the streets of Nairobi’s capital.
The proposals, contained in a draft law known as the finance bill, will be considered by the legislature alongside the 2023-24 budget, which the finance minister will present on Thursday.
On the bustling streets of Githunguri, dozens of residents surrounded Reuters reporters to express their opposition.
Waitress Jacqueline Wambui stated that she regretted voting for Ruto last August. “The promises made to us as small merchants and motorcycle riders have not materialized,” she said.
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The representative for Ruto did not respond to a request for comment.
The president and his allies have defended the tax increases, arguing that East Africa’s economic powerhouse requires more revenue to avert a debt crisis and finance affordable housing projects.
Ruto’s predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta’s costly infrastructure initiatives increased total debt to 67% of GDP, and repayments now consume nearly half of the revenues.
Ruto claims he has maintained his commitment to helping the poor, citing initiatives such as the distribution of fertilizer to millions of farmers and the “Hustler Fund” microloan program.
LITTLE SYMPATHY
As a result of poor harvests, the war in Ukraine, and a weakening domestic currency, the price of maize flour has risen by nearly 30 percent since Ruto’s election, eliciting little sympathy from the public.
The bill is anticipated to pass in parliament, where Ruto’s allies hold a majority, but its unpopularity has provided fodder for the opposition, which has seized on it.
If the bill is passed, the main opposition coalition, led by Raila Odinga, who lost the election to Ruto last year, plans to organize additional protests.
An unidentified man in Githunguri defended the finance bill, stating that Ruto was merely attempting to leave his mark by building affordable housing.
He was, however, a lone voice.
John Nyaga, a fruit vendor and another Ruto supporter, complained that the tax increases would leave his clients with even less money to spend.
“These additional deductions will impact not only the employed but also us,” he explained.
Hustler Base Disillusioned as President Ruto Implements Tax Hikes
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