Azimio La Umoja leader Raila Odinga has called on the President William Ruto administration to stop over-taxing Kenyans.
Raila who spoke at Kahuro in Murang’a during the burial ceremony of former Murang’a governor Mwangi wa Iria’s mother-in-law Mary Nyambura, said over-taxing Kenyans as a way of raising government funds is counterproductive and oppressive.
He said the government should instead consult stakeholders and come up with amicable ways of raising funds to avoid hurting Kenyans, who are already struggling with the hard economic times.
“Sometimes, you can milk a cow too much until only blood comes out. You promised to fight for hustlers, now mama mbogas are being oppressed as they go about their mama mboga businesses.”
“We have seen small businesses like in digital jobs and beauty being taxed. Is that fair? A government has to tax people to offer services but over-taxing them only makes matters worse,” he said.
He cited Housing Fund levy proposed by the Treasury that is aimed at supporting the low-cost houses, that will see government employees contribute three per cent of their salaries.
He said it is unfair for the government to impose a blanket housing tax without considering the fact that some Kenyans already own homes.
Raila said the government should have made it voluntary to allow those in need of homes to participate and volunteer their salaries.
“If you want to tax people to provide them with houses, you should ask for those who want houses so that others are exempted. Why are those with homes already being taxed? That is wrong. Let stakeholders sit together and agree how the taxes should be imposed.”
Raila also lauded the Anglican Church for backing the regulation of churches to tame cults and safeguard the lives of Kenyans.
On Thursday, Anglican Bishops led by Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit said the current laws are inadequate to tame religious extremists that operate under the guise of religious organisations, and that they would throw their weight behind any law that would stem the trend.
He however wondered why the government had sealed off Shakahola forest where over 100 bodies have been retrieved.
“I recently went to Shakahola, I went there to witness on behalf of many Kenyans who could not go, but was barred at the entrance and told that investigations are going on.”
“I asked what investigations were being done that were being kept from the public. If people have lost their lives and bodies are being retrieved from mass graves, why is that a secret? People were led to their deaths to meet Jesus. What sort of church is that? Is that not devil worship?”
He said such an incident has never before been witnessed in the country and strongly condemned it.
Wa Iria on his part praised Raila as a prolific politician who has shaped the politics of the country and helped many politicians.
He reiterated that his focus has shifted to national politics since he unsuccessfully vied for the Presidency last year, and that he’s looking upon Raila to mould him into a better politician.
“I am saying this because some people criticise anybody they see with Raila yet they have been with him for years and all we want is to see the cost of living go down”.