On August 15, 2022, William Ruto now President of Kenya unveiled his political plan during heated campaigns and threatened to prosecute then President Uhuru Kenyatta after winning elections.
Ruto won the elections anyway, and few months in office, President Ruto could be clandestinely preparing to prosecute his predecessor Kenyatta as part of trimming the latter’s influence in the country.
Ruto has allegedly accused certain unnamed individuals who served in the previous government of trying to undermine his government to avoid paying taxes.
“This nation does not practice inequality among its citizens. We aim to establish a society where every individual contributes their fair share towards tax increases,” said Ruto.
Ruto has accused his predecessor of funding veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga as part of a broader plan to undermine his government and divert its focus from ensuring that all Kenyans pay taxes.
“I assure sponsors of demonstrations who evade taxes that their tactics will no longer succeed. No exemptions will be granted. This nation does not favor some over others,” he declared.
Former President Kenyatta has asked President Ruto to curb excessive talking and concentrate on delivering services. He observed that the current regime talks big but acts little.
Kenyatta revealed that there are attempts by the incumbent government to conduct a tax audit on his family properties.
“Do not mind these people who are making unnecessary noise. Let them shout. People who have nothing else to do must always make noise,” he said.
“There are people who talk a lot about what they will do and do nothing and those are many,” he said.
The alliance between Kenyatta and Odinga, which led to the need for constitutional reforms in the country, caused a rift between former President Kenyatta and his then-deputy Ruto, who strongly opposed the changes.
President Ruto’s open defiance then compelled his former boss to endorse Odinga as his successor in the 2022 presidential election.
Despite being Odinga’s fifth bid for the presidency, he lost to President Ruto.
According to an old Kenyan tax law(Estate Duty Act-), Section 7 (3) of the Act grants former Presidents Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel Moi tax exemptions.
Senator Samson Cherargei from Nandi recently petitioned the Senate Clerk to modify the old law.
“The proposed amendment seeks to remedy the unconstitutional and illegal legislation, establish fairness in the taxation system, and ensure equal treatment under the law for all Kenyans,” he said.
Senator Cherargei is proposing to have people with disabilities, minorities, and the marginalized enjoy the exemption instead.
Meanwhile former First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta, who on Saturday denied claims that the Kenyatta family is avoiding taxes.
She challenged the government to auction the Kenyatta properties if they failed to pay taxes.
“There are procedures on matters of taxes and one cannot avoid paying taxes because it is illegal,” she said.
“If all these reports are true then they should reclaim the money from the businesses,” she added.