President Ruto has accused unnamed tax evaders of sponsoring the recent public rallies by Azimio la Umoja leaders led by Raila Odinga.
Stating that no Kenyan will be exempted from paying taxes, the president said Kenya is not an animal farm where some animals are more equal than others.
“Even if they [tax evaders] sponsor demonstrations so that they do not pay tax, I want to promise them that they will pay tax, there are no more exemptions,” he said without mentioning names.
“I’m not talking about additional taxes, I’m talking about taxes that have been agreed upon by parliament and signed into law,” he added.
The president spoke in Mombasa, where he presided over the National Assembly’s Post-Election Seminar 2023 in collaboration with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).
“This country is not the animal farm where some are more equal than others, we are going to have a society where every citizen carries their fair share of our burden to raise our taxes,” he said.
On Sunday, Azimio leaders castigated President Ruto’s administration for imposing “punitive and unjust” taxes on Kenyans.
While urging Kenyans to resist paying such taxes, Odinga likened Ruto to the biblical tax collector Zacchaeus, who is known for his unethical and exploitative practices.
“We ask that all Kenyans demand the removal of these punitive taxes. There will be no taxation without representation,” Raila said during a rally at Jacaranda grounds in Nairobi.
Odinga said he will hold nationwide rallies to demand electoral justice and oppose President Ruto’s administration.
“This is not about me, it is about the youth, women, children, disabled and the old. Kenyans must be able to go to an election, the ballots must be counted and results announced as per results counted,” he said.
“Porojo tu!”
“Porojo tu!”
Mr. Ruto: You stopped and…
Mr. Ruto: You stopped and threw out all the KRA and other corruption cases of your friends and sponsors. You even rewarded them with lucrative jobs where they now have access to public funds. If those did not pay their taxes, why should the rest of the country pay. You are the one practicing what your are blaming others for: the animal farm. You have already proved to us, some people are sacred cows while the rest of us are cursed cows that you have labeled hustlers. Who amongst your cabinet or leaders around you can be described as a hustler? You fooled us, but we have become wiser. You are no longer talking about the hustler fund. What happened to that failed project? Kenyans can read through your schemes. They will demand their rights. You are proving to us Kenya is for the clique around you and not for us all as you claim. If this is the trajectory of your very young presidency, you are in for more trouble.
Now e serious mr president…
Now e serious mr president. Really? Its now about tax evasion and Uhuru is sponsoring the rallies? Couldn’t come up with a better scapegoat? Leave UK out of this. No one should pay taxes being squandered looted by you and your cronies without benefitting the common mwananchi. Educate on how you’ll stop theft of public funds aka measures in place to stop looting before seeking to tax further overburdened Kenyans.
When did Raila realize there…
When did Raila realize there is punitive taxes? Kenyans have always paid taxes he should give us break. Lipa ushuru wacha pangaga.
Them thieves must pay all…
Them thieves must pay all the damn taxes, including decades of back taxes with interest and penalties Plus prison time!
I truly pity Kenyans. How…
I truly pity Kenyans. How will you sponsor demonstrations to avoid paying taxes? Ruto is simply trying to stop Raila by all means. Sunday meeting scared him to the core.
Samoei:
We are not fools as…
Samoei:
We are not fools as you think! You were in the same government you keep on blaming everyday as a vice president.
F O R H O W L O N G ?
T E N (10) Y E A R S !
Economic boycott yet Azimio…
Economic boycott yet Azimio counties, MPs, etc rely on taxes for revenue is criminal. Rao must be held to account.
The peoples conman must pay…
The peoples conman must pay ALL DAMN TAXES
You have been in politics…
You have been in politics for a long time. You have surrounded yourself with real con men. Most of these folks had major court cases which you just voided?????
This is not justice!!!!! More fraudsters in the government. Poor Wananchi!!!!!!!!!!
So this clown legacy /agenda…
So this clown legacy /agenda for the country is “collect taxes”…. and the same day, his deputy was exonerated for stealing 201 Million KSH . Ruto has zero economic agenda for the country, no vision , kutangatanga and still in campaign mode for 2026. Bure Kabisa!
Ruto, “Pay your taxes so I…
Ruto, “Pay your taxes so I can continue to be tourist-in-chief, and so we can afford to pay Gachagua “his” Ksh 202 million!”
Notice no mention of CORRUPTION in any of his speeches!
Corruption costs Kenya more than deferred taxation!
Corruption kills investments, innovation, industry, and is a poison to any nation that wants to prosper.