President Ruto Vows to Follow Kibaki’s Tax Collection Legacy
President William Ruto reaffirmed that his administration will not back down from its plan to implement new taxes, stating that this is the only way to increase the country’s revenues.
Saturday, while celebrating Farmers’ Day in the counties of Meru and Kiambu, the president stated that his administration was committed to ensuring the success of its projects, such as the implementation of the contentious Finance Bill and the Housing Fund.
While acknowledging that the country is experiencing an out-of-control unemployment crisis, he reiterated that Kenya Kwanza’s programs, such as the Housing project, would secure employment for the “over five million unemployed youth in the country.”
“Tuko na vijana milioni tano hawana kazi na wanaongezeka kutoka college karibu 800k na tusipopanga kazi ya hawa vijana watapotea,” he said.
“Mpango wetu wa housing itatusaidia kuwapatia hawa vijana kazi…tutaka na 250,000 units kila mwaka tutapata kazi ya carpenters, marsons na wengine.”
The president referenced former President Mwai Kibaki’s administration, during which he avoided debts and devised methods for increasing revenue collection.
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Similarly, President Ruto stated that he would follow in Kibaki’s footsteps and prioritize tax collection as the ultimate solution for economic growth.
“Mambo ni mawili; Mzee Kibaki wakati alikua Rais tulikua tunakusanya ushuru 200 billion. Akatusaidia kutusukumia mpaka ikafika 900 billion karibu one trillion,” he noted.
“Niendelee na ile ya kukopa ama nirudi kwa ile ya Kibaki tukusanye ushuru? Si hii madeni itaendelea kutuingisha kwa tabu? Na si ni mimi niko hapo sasa? Mimi sitakuwa Rais wa kuingiza nchi kwa matope, kwa hivyo tuendelee kukusanya ushuru, tujenge taifa letu la Kenya.”
President Ruto added that the country’s employment crisis has exposed the youth. And led the majority of them to substance abuse.
“Hawa vijana mnawaona hawana kazi sasa wameingia kwa madawa ya kulevya; hiyo ndio mnataka kama wakenya?” the president stated.
President Ruto announced on Thursday that the government will establish ICT hubs in all wards. So that job creation will trickle down to the county level to reduce unemployment even further.
President Ruto stated, “We will establish ICT centers everywhere because we do not want unemployment to steer our future generation in the wrong direction.”
The leaders who accompanied the president to Meru praised the Finance Bill of 2023, which exempts farm inputs from taxation.
Sasa umetoa ushuru kwa vile vitu vya wakulima hiyo itawasaidia kuzalisha maziwa zaidi,” Agriculture Cabinet Secreatry Mithika Linturi said.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua added: “Hapa Meru rais amekuja kwa sababu mumewacha vita..juzi mliona ameniambi nipigane na mambo ya madawa ya kulevya na kutatua mambo ya kahawa.”
President Ruto Vows to Follow Kibaki’s Tax Collection Legacy
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