Garissa Township MP Aden Duale has defended President Uhuru Kenyatta’s 8% proposal as Value Added Tax (VAT) on fuel and petroleum products.
Duale says that the 8% VAT as proposed by the president is manageable and MPs should support and approve it.
In an interview with a local daily on Sunday, Duale said that the 8% VAT is friendly and will not expose Kenyans to economic hardships.
“I support the proposal for 8% and urge my colleagues to approve it once we meet on Tuesday and Thursday,” he said.
Duale is among few MPs who have declared support for the VAT while majority of lawmakers wants the proposed 8% VAT suspended.
The MPs will meet on Tuesday to deliberate on the proposal by President Kenyatta.
On Friday last week, President Kenyatta declined to assent to the Finance Bill 2018 that had recommended for suspension of the 16% VAT on fuel.
The amended Bill had recommended that the VAT be suspended for two years.
However President Kenyatta proposed 8% instead of 16%.
The 16% VAT took effect on September 1 and has seen fuel prices hike causing public uproar.
Several top leaders among them former Prime Minister Raila Odinga have welcomed Uhuru’s 8% proposal.
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