Africa-Press – Kenya. President William Ruto has said the problem with the country is not taxes but debts.
Speaking during a burial in Nyandarua County, the head of state said the debts have caused problems for other countries in Africa, delaying their developments.
“Some countries in Africa have missed paying their debts, and they are now in problems. I will not allow our country to go that route where we will not be fully independent,” he said.
“The problem in Kenya is not taxes but debts.”
The President further said that unless the country manages its appetite for debt and borrowing, Kenya will be a slave to those who lend to the country.
“There is no single nation that has been destroyed by taxes; so many nations have been built with taxes,” he added.
Further, Ruto said that former President Mwai Kibaki’s style of leadership was focused on paying taxes for Kenyans to fully depend on themselves.
“Yeye (Mwai Kibaki) mwenyewe alisukuma mambo ya VAT na akasukuma watu walipe ushuru na kuongeza ushuru, wakati aliondoka laiongeza ushuru karibu mara nne, hapo katikati tukawacha hio barabara tukaenda kwa madeni,” he said.
“Tulikua tumeonekana hawa ni watu wa kukopa sio kulipa. Heri upigiwe kelele na uokoe inchi yako, kushanda kupigiwa makofi na tuelekee kwa mtaro.”
Ruto added that his administration is on course to improve the lives of Kenyans and the economy at large through development.
The president’s comment comes a day after Kenyans received a new government directive on the increase in Nairobi Expressway toll fees.
Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen attributed the increase to the depreciation of the Kenya Shilling to the United States dollar, adding that the adjustment was done based on the project agreement following the gazettement of the toll rates in April 2022.
“The formulae for computing the new rates are already embedded in the agreement, taking into account the loan facility provided by the investor, which was borrowed using USD,” he said.
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