Opinion: Ruto Needs to Take Caution; Citizens Are Fed Up with Taxes

The time has come for President Ruto and other top leaders in the Kenya Kwanza government to ask themselves if they were elected by the “hustlers” to help improve their lives and foster development in the country or to make their lives so difficult that they are burdened by the cost of living.

Ruto’s strategies to boost the economy using oppressive policies that hurt citizens by constantly imposing high taxes even on essential goods like bread and cooking oil are not in any way beneficial to the poor.

I do not oppose citizens paying taxes, but this government should stop imposing high taxes to fund development projects, pay debts, and cover other government expenses.

They should develop new strategies to enable the government to raise funds for essential operations and improve public welfare.

Why should the hustlers bear the burden of high taxes while some top officials are implicated in corruption scandals and misappropriation of public funds without facing appropriate consequences?

Since this government took power, what commendable action have they taken to assist the poor citizens?

In my opinion, the president’s strategies to increase taxes through the Finance Bill of 2024/2025 will negatively impact him politically and portray him as a leader who does not diligently follow through on his campaign promises made in 2022.

Is this President Ruto the same person who, as deputy president, used to criticize former President Uhuru Kenyatta for failing to understand the challenges affecting the hustlers?

It must be remembered that this is the only government that has failed to understand how high taxes severely impact the nation economically and drive away foreign investors who want to avoid the tax burden.