President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday whipped Jubilee Party Members of Parliament into supporting his proposal for an eight per cent Value Added Tax on petroleum products.
The president’s communication team said a “heated debate” took place at State House in Nairobi County, where the president met the MPs. Deputy President William Ruto and party secretary-general Raphael Tuju also attended the meeting.
With the opposition’s National Super Alliance (Nasa) MPs also agreeing to back the proposal, on condition that it is opened for review in one year, the dissenting voices in the House seem to have been drowned.
National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale earlier told NTV that 181 MPs attended the meeting.
Some MPs from the president’s party vehemently opposed the VAT as well, as the other proposed tax cuts, saying it will affect the common mwananchi.
At the meeting, State House said, the MPs also unanimously agreed that there should be budgetary cuts to accommodate the reduction in Value Added Tax (VAT).
The cuts will be across the board and will see citizens make a contribution through the eight per cent VAT. The government, Parliament and county governments will contribute through reductions in budgetary allocations.
