Caption: National Assembly majority leader Aden Duale at a past event. Photo www.udaku.co.ke
The recently released budget has attracted mixed reactions from various leaders and Kenyans at large purely based on one’s political affiliation.
National Assembly majority leader Aden Duale has praised the increment on gambling business and said it will save society.
“This is a deterrent and punitive measure to save society. We now need enforcement agencies to move in and regulate this sector,” Duale said.
According to the budget, taxes imposed on betting, lottery, gaming and competitions will be increased from the current rates of 7.5 percent to 50 percent as a way of regulating them.
"Betting and gaming have become widespread in our society in an environment that is inadequately regulated," said Rotich.
He added: "Its expansion is beginning to have social effects, in particular on the young and vulnerable members of the society," he added.
Other sectors hard with the new taxation system are manufacturers and importers of distilled liquor.
Before the budget was read, former vice president Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka had asked leaders from the opposition to keenly scrutinize it to avoid inheritance of huge deficits when they ascend to power in the forthcoming general polls.