The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) missed its target for the full year ended June by Sh267 billion, hurt by reduced corporate profits and job cuts in a period when businesses were devastated by the depreciation of the shilling and high energy prices. The taxman collected Sh2.22 trillion in ordinary revenue, an increase of 9.5 percent … Read more
President William Ruto believes that Kenyans are not overtaxed, citing the concept of ‘tax effort’ as a measure of tax revenue as a percentage of GDP. He argues that the government needs to increase tax effort to fund infrastructure projects and meet international standards for service delivery. However, he criticizes the reliance on IMF advice and GDP statistics, pointing out data quality issues and the impact of high taxes on citizens and businesses. Ruto suggests assessing the impact of taxes on the cost of living through household surveys to determine if Kenyans are indeed overtaxed.
Sales of new vehicles in Kenya fell 17.66 percent in the first quarter of 2024, the sharpest drop in seven years. This decline was attributed to increased taxation, rising interest rates, and a weakened shilling. Dealers such as Isuzu, CFAO, and Simba Corporation have been struggling in a tough operating environment, with climbing interest rates and pending bills affecting demand. The Kenya Revenue Authority also increased duty on shipping cars into the country, further impacting sales. Isuzu East Africa and CFAO Motors Kenya, which control a significant portion of new vehicle sales, experienced declines in sales, while Simba Corp saw a modest increase. The falling demand for vehicles has also affected government revenues.
Fact: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed the National Board of Revenue (NBR) not to increase taxes on food, agro-related items, and fertilizers in the upcoming budget.