Ruto Moves To Save KRA From Court Cases
The Head of State advocated for all Kenyans to be allowed to pay taxes without being disturbed...
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President William Ruto has moved to take action against government agencies that have been vowing legal battles against the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) over taxation arrears.
Speaking during a church service at Deliverance Church in Ruai, Nairobi County, the Head of State advocated for all Kenyans to be allowed to pay taxes without being disturbed by the agencies.
In addition, he instructed them to withdraw ongoing court disputes with KRA over tax issues and settle those matters out of court.
"What I have also told KRA is every Kenyan should be given an opportunity to pay taxes without being threatened or tormented, everyone will be given an opportunity...we have even told those government agencies, there are those companies or government instruments who instead of paying taxes, they take KRA to court.
"We have told them to leave the courts alone and to go discuss with KRA to come up with a gradual plan of paying taxes so that we stop fighting in courts because the lawyers are the ones getting money and the government is losing money," he addressed.
He further promised to issue a notice barring government agencies to take KRA to court over tax disputes.
"There will be a circular that all government agencies cannot take KRA to court.
"If there is a challenge let there be discussions between the various agencies and settle the matter out of court. We cannot be using public money to go to court," he added.
He further defended his passionate push for having a candid tax payment model, arguing that the easiest way to offset the nation from its burdening debt is if revenue collection is seamless and accountable.
In yet another response to a standoff with the Kenyatta family over allegations that they have not been paying taxes to the national taxman, Ruto reiterated that nobody will be exempted from paying taxes, expressing his happiness that Kenyans from all walks of life have come together to pay taxes.
"There will be no waiver of taxes for anybody. All of us have agreed that everyone will pay taxes.
"I'm very happy that we have united our views and we have agreed that there is no big or small person, there is no one from one corner or the other, we are all equal before the Constitution and the law and we will all pay taxes depending on our income," he noted.
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 Kenyatta, lashed out at President William 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.
Former First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta speaks during the opening of the Tewa Catholic Church in Mpeketoni, Lamu County, on February 4, 2023. /CITIZEN DIGITAL
