Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja has opposed the 8% VAT proposed on petroleum products.
This comes after President Uhuru Kenyatta rejected a proposal by the National Assembly seeking to postpone the current 16 percent increment.
Speaking on Radio Citizen Wednesday morning, Sakaja opposed Uhuru’s proposal, saying that Kenyans should not be subjected to more taxes, judging by the tough living conditions in the country.
Therefore, he proposed the removal of any taxation on fuel, urging Members of Parliament to shoot down Uhuru’s demand in their special sitting set for Thursday.
‘’Sio lazima tufanye kila kitu leo, hata hii asilimia nane itolewe na wabunge wapewe nafasi ya kupendekeza njia zingine za kupata pesa zinazohitajika na serikali.
(Let the 8 percent too be removed as we cannot be expected to raise the needed funds to finance all our desired projects at a go. Let parliamentarians propose other means of raising the needed funds),’’ he said.
He revealed that if implemented, Kenyans will be paying 50 percent tax on petrol, pointing out that they are already paying Excise Duty and Petrol Levy tax.
‘’Mwananchi hawezi kuwa analipa asilimia hamsini kwa petrol. Pia tukumbuke kuwa iwapo itapanda kwa asilimia kumi na nane, wanabiashara kama wenye matatu watapandisha bei na asilimia hamsini.
(Kenyans will be even more disadvantaged as traders and matatu operators will most likely hike their prices by 50 percent to exploit them),’’ he added.