Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu has urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene and lower the high cost of fuel caused by the implementation of the 16 per cent VAT on petroleum products.
Speaking to journalists in Kitui Town on Sunday, the Governor said that common Kenyans are suffering as a result of the 16 per cent VAT that has seen fuel prices increase.
She said that the tax is a burden to Kenyans who are already being taxed heavily.
“President Uhuru Kenyatta should lower the fuel prices and look for alternative areas to impose the tax,” she said.
Ngilu said that fuel is the engine that runs the economy and overtaxing Kenyans on it will lead to an economic crisis.
The Governor, however, asked politicians to stop using the VAT to campaign for 2022.
She claimed that some politicians are using the VAT to incite Kenyans against the government.
The 16 per cent VAT came into effect on September 1, 2018 and has caused public uproar with calls on President Uhuru to suspend it.
A section of politicians across the divide has even threatened to call for peaceful demonstrations if the fuel prices are not revised.
Last week, Treasury CS Henry Rotich met with Parliament leaders and discussed measures to cushion Kenyans from the high fuel prices.
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