Africa-Press – Kenya. Increases in fuel prices, high taxation and inflation are the leading causes of the high cost of living, a survey has found.
The ‘Voice of the People’ poll conducted by Infotrak between July 3 and 8 across all 47 counties cited an increase in fuel prices as the main cause at 59 per cent.
The study said 49 percent of the respondents cited high taxation while 28 percent blamed the rising cost of living on inflation.
Poor decisions and policies by the William Ruto regime were cited as the cause by 19 per cent of the respondents, 10 per cent blamed high import costs and seven per cent blamed climate change.
Seven per cent of the respondents blamed the current sorry state of affairs on the past regime.
Regionally, the survey found that North Eastern, Eastern and Nyanza regions are bearing the greatest brunt of the cost of living, at 66 per cent, courtesy of an increase in fuel prices.
Nyanza and Eastern on the other hand blame the situation on high taxation at 57 per cent while North Eastern (40%) and Coast (30%) have laid the blame on inflation.
Azimio La Umoja leaders have been holding protests in the country over the high cost of living imposed on Kenyans by the government.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga called on his supporters to boycott the payment of taxes introduced under the Finance Bill 2023.
He urged Kenyans to walk to work in order to deny Ruto fuel tax adding that the sum effect of this move is to limit consumption of petrol and diesel by public service vehicles.
“One way, to do this is to carpool. Let us arrange to make regular journeys in a single vehicle whenever possible. Give each other a ride. Cut down on non-essential travel. Walk instead of driving whenever possible,” Raila said.
“I appeal to all the employers to allow their workers time to walk to and from work,” he added.
Raila also appealed to Matatu operators to carry excess passengers to limit the number of vehicles used thereby limiting fuel consumption.
This is despite it being against traffic rules for public service vehicles to carry excess passengers.
Source: The Star
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