Africa-Press – Kenya. Trans-Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has dismissed President William Ruto’s proposal to scrap Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) tax for Kenyans earning below Ksh30,000 monthly as a political gimmick.
The governor, while speaking in Trans Nzoia County on Saturday, accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of solving a problem it created, then presenting the solution as a favour to Kenyans ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Natembeya questioned why so many Gen Z youths had to lose their lives protesting tax hikes when the government now says it can afford to significantly reduce the tax burden.
He made the remarks while commissioning a new maternal and children’s hospital in the Tuwani area, which will serve women who previously travelled long distances for treatment.
Natembeya said the tax relief plan is part of the government’s campaign strategy to win votes, rather than a genuine effort to ease the financial burden on ordinary Kenyans.
“This tax relief plan is nothing more than a vote-buying scheme designed to win elections, not to genuinely help struggling Kenyans,” stated Natembeya.
Natembeya also reminded Kenyans that he will not be siding with President Ruto, and that it will not a must for him to be on the government’s side for development to come to Trans-Nzoia.
“It is not a must for one to kneel before the President at Statehouse for development to come to this county. That is not something I am willing to do,” Natembeya stressed.
President Ruto and Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi announced in February that all Kenyans earning Ksh30,000 or less would be fully exempt from PAYE tax.
The proposal will raise the tax-free income threshold from the current Ksh24,000 to Ksh30,000, removing approximately 1.5 million low-income earners from the tax bracket nationwide.
The government plans to table the changes in Parliament through the Tax Laws Amendment Bill as soon as the house resumes from the recess, even as the budgeting window resumes.
Workers earning between Ksh30,000 and Ksh50,000 will also benefit from reduced PAYE rates, which will be slashed from 30 per cent to 25 per cent under the new proposal.
An estimated 2 million formal-sector workers are set to benefit from these changes, including 1.5 million who will pay no tax and 500,000 who will receive the reduced rate, according to the government.
For someone earning Ksh 30,000 monthly, the tax exemption translates into savings of approximately Ksh731 per month, previously deducted under PAYE before other statutory contributions.
Those earning Ksh50,000 monthly could save between Ksh2,500 and Ksh3,200 each month, though actual figures depend on other deductions like NSSF, SHIF, and the Housing Levy.
President Ruto defended the tax relief plan, stating the move is possible because the government has steadied the economy and aims to manage the cost of living from the bottom up.
Meanwhile, during his visit, Governor Natembeya also opened roads linking Matisi, Kitale Town, and Tuwani, and inspected ongoing completion works at the Kenyatta International Stadium in Kitale to improve infrastructure.
The governor reiterated his commitment to improving health and infrastructure services across Trans Nzoia County, highlighting the new hospital’s role in expanding regional access to maternal and child healthcare.
