The Kenyan government has announced plans to reintroduce some of the tax measures proposed in the now-scrapped controversial Finance Bill that sparked the deadly June protests. With the new bill, the government aims to raise $1.2 billion to pay for expenditures, including teachers’ salaries. Finance Minister John Mbadi announced the plan, stating that the government will introduce an eco-levy on most goods, although essential items like sanitary pads will be exempted. Mbadi also said that the eco-levy will not target areas that affect everyday citizens. Initially, the bill proposed taxing bread, cooking oil, and other essential commodities, sparking widespread protests and criticism. With it, the government had hoped to raise $2.7 billion in taxes in a bid to reduce the nation’s budget deficit and debt.
SOURCE: NAIRAMETRICS