Ruto’s tax: Fuel set to increase by 12 shillings!

President William Ruto’s effort to bring back an unpopular fuel tax that his predecessor was forced to drop reveals leaders’ double-talk on a topic of great public concern and rekindles the politics that surround petroleum pricing.

Kenyans have been advised to prepare for higher living expenses starting on July 1 in the event that a proposal in the Finance Bill 2023 to subject petroleum items to a 16 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT), up from the current 8 per cent, is put into effect.

The responsibility of promoting the Bill in the House will fall to the National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah and Budget Committee Chairman Ndindi Nyoro, who will effectively be whipped into passing the controversial law that they adamantly opposed in 2021.