A section of Muslim leaders in Uasin Gishu county now wants the Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich to reconsider his decision to implement an introduction of 16 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on petroleum products.
Led by the county’s Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) chairman Sheikh Abubakar Bini, the Muslim leaders said the introduction of the fuel levy will add more burden to a common mwananchi.
Speaking to the press in Eldoret town on Monday, Bini further faulted the CS for ignoring a resolution by the National Parliament to suspend implementation of the 16 per cent VAT for two years.
“We are saddened by the decision of the CS to go against MPs resolution that the VAT on fuel is suspended for 2 years. What the MPs passed was not for their selfish interests but it was as a result of the cry of Kenyans who are already suffering as a result of the high cost of living,” said Bini.
“Touching on the fuel price is touching on the lives of Kenyans, especially those in the low-income category. CS Rotich needs to rethink this decision,” he added.
The CIPK Uasin Gishu chairman further said it was wrong for the Cabinet Secretary to make decisions so as to please the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at the expense of millions of Kenyans.
IMF has been pushing the government to do away with tax exemption as part of austerity measures to increase revenue, reduce the budget deficit and slow down debts that have been piling up in recent months.
16 per cent VAT on petroleum products has already been effected causing an increase in fuel prices across the country.
According to new prices released by the Energy Regularity Commission (ERC), a litre of super petrol will be sold at a maximum of Sh129.64, Sh117.15 for Diesel and Sh99.29 for a litre of kerosene in Eldoret town.
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