President Uhuru Kenyatta will on Tuesday morning meet with Jubilee MPs before they convene to discuss the proposed 8% Value Added Tax (VAT) on fuel and petroleum products, Garissa Township MP Aden Daule has confirmed.
Duale, who is also the National Assembly majority leader, confirmed the planned Tuesday brief meeting.
On Monday, Duale confirmed having informed Jubilee MPs about the meeting through text message.
Duale in the text message send to MPs on Monday and shared with parliamentary journalists reads: “Mhehsimiwa please note that we hold a Parliamentary Group meeting on Tuesday, September 18, 2018, at State House Nairobi at 8: 00 am.”
Political pundits argue that the meeting is tailored to pushing the Jubilee MPs who are the majority to support Uhuru’s 8% VAT proposal on fuel.
“It is obvious that the president want to have a chat with Jubilee MPs to explain to them on why they should support and approve the 8% VAT proposal,” Peter Ngure, a political a economic pundit said on Monday.
Ngure said that there are high chances that Uhuru’s proposal will be approved.
“He (Uhuru) has the majority in the National Assembly and he is likely to have his way on the VAT,” he added.
However, a section of MPs some allied to Jubilee Party have vowed to reject the proposal.
The MPs wants the VAT suspended for two years as they had earlier recommended.
The 16% VAT on fuel came into force on September 1 and has seen fuel prices hike causing public uproar.
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