Raila Tells Off Ruto Over Attacks On Uhuru, Mama Ngina

Azimio party leader Raila Odinga has urged President William Ruto to keep off matters concerning First lady, Mama Ngina Kenyatta and his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta amidst the raging debate over tax evasion claims.

Speaking at the Kamukunji Grounds in Kibra on Sunday, February 5, Raila expressed the pain Mama Ngina endured being hit by alleged insults from the Kenya Kwanza government, reminding them that she has come from very far.

He added that it was embarrassing for her to have to break her silence on tax evasion claims by the government after numerous attacks on her family.

"You saw yesterday the woman who has been respected a lot, Mama Ngina Kenyatta, spoke about paying taxes. She has been insulted very badly by these people. They don't know where Kenya has come from.

"Mama Ngina was arrested during the Mau Mau era and jailed in Kamiti, she stayed there for a very long time. How can you insult a woman like her who is 80, almost 90 years old? She is your grandmother's agemate, so if you cannot respect her, what kind of person are you?" he addressed.

Raila further reminded the current government of a law that exempts presidents from paying taxes which was passed in 1963 and implemented in 1969.

"The law initially only exempted Jomo Kenyatta but when Moi took over, he added his name in 1981.

"In 1982, the parliament exempted all Kenyans from paying taxes if they inherited land from their parents' land should they die. That is the law of succession," he noted.

He added that only the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has the mandate of exempting people from paying taxes and not the two most powerful men in the country.

"There is a government agency called KRA that was given the powers of exempting taxes, not Gachagua nor Ruto. They should let KRA do its work, they should not bring politics into matters of paying taxes.

"Leave Mama Ngina and Uhuru Kenyatta alone," he added.

Breaking her silence on the matter for the first time on Saturday, February 4, former First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta, the mother of former President Uhuru, lashed out at President Ruto's government over claims that her family has been linked to tax evasion.

Speaking at the St. Teresa's Catholic Church in Mpeketoni, Lamu County on Saturday, February 4, Mama Ngina accused a section of politicians of propagating lies so that Kenyans see that they are carrying out their mandate.

Mama Ngina went to the extent of daring the Kenya Kwanza administration to auction her property and sell it off to recoup any perceived debt if the claims surrounding her tax evasion turn out to be true.

"If you fail to pay what you are supposed to pay, it is a must for your belongings to be taken and auctioned. So there is no need to tarnish people's names so that others see that you are doing work, you are driving the country forward, no. 

"A person should be reported so that he or she pays what is supposed to be paid. If it is me, even if I have failed to pay taxes for a year, take my property which will pay that tax. So there is no need of doing politics here and there...and people know they are not telling the truth, they want to say it so that they are heard calling names," she addressed.

On January 31, Uhuru responded to calls from the Kenya Kwanza government to have his family and former President Daniel arap Moi's family pay taxes including land rates, stating that he was unbothered by the noise politicians were making concerning him and was minding his own business.

While reiterating the Head of State's comments days later, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, in response to Uhuru, stated that he was not a special case and was required to pay tax like everyone else.

Gachagua further invited the former Head of State for talks over a tax repayment plan, noting that he was aware of the huge amount of unpaid taxes owed by some individuals.