Tax on fuel products should be at zero, says Senators.

  Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei{M} during a funds raising ceremony in aid of Onjiko AIC Church in Kisumu County.A section of senators have said that there is no need to levy 8 percent VAT on fuel products-Photo By Dickson Odhiambo.

By Dickson Odhiambo.

 September 24, 2018.

Tax on fuel products should be at zero, says Senators.

THE issue of eight Percent Value Added Tax being levied on fuel products should not be there at all, a section of Senators have said.

Led by the Nandi county Senator Samson Cherargei, the senators says VAT on fuel products like kerosene, Diesel and petrol should be rated at zero since these products are used so much by the common man.

Addressing a church congregation during a fund raising in aid of Onjiko African Inland Church in Kisumu County on Sunday, the Nandi Senator said if at all VAT should be levied on any fuel product then it should be so on jet fuel so that those travelling using airplanes should pay more because they can afford such.

He appeals to both President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to ensure that Kerosene, Diesel and petrol which are mostly used by common man is not taxed at all.

“I want to appeal to President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to ensure that Kerosene, diesel and petrol is not taxed at all since this is really overburdening the common man who uses these a lot. This should be done in the spirit of hand shake which has been there between the two leaders,” he says.

The Nandi Senator at the same time says the 9 billion that has been slashed not to come to counties is not a good move and should be reversed.

“The biggest waste in terms of public money is by the executive arm of the Government and its budget should be slashed and not allocation to the counties,” Cherargei says.

He says the Senate will not relent on this as this will actually affects the operations at the counties level.

Cherargei says the Senate will ensure that the counties has good funding from the National Treasury.

Senate Minority Leader and Siaya County Senator James Orengo who was also present during the fundraising ceremony echoed the same sentiment and said there should have been proper consultation before taxation on fuel products were implemented.

“Taxation is punitive and when you are paying there should be a reason why you are paying it. This is why there was a clarion call on no taxation without representation,” Orengo says.

Orengo says the Government has borrowed heavily and the public are the ones who are now bearing the debt burden.

“As we carry this debt burden, they must explain why we carry such burden and to ask about this is not a sin at all,” Orengo adds.

Orengo says the Former Prime Minister has assured Kenyans that they will talk and ensure that the debt burden does not bring down Kenyans.

Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang says the issue of taxing fuel products is a real burden to Kenyans who uses it so much hence should not be taxed at all and such a decision should be reversed.

Nominated Senator Rose Nyamunga says the country is already heavily indebted due to constant borrowing by the National Government.

She says there is need for Executive arm of the Government to come out very clearly on the issue of the country being heavily indebted.

“The kind of debt we have as country is very alarming and something should be done about it,” she adds.

Nyamunga says a lot of public funds is lot through corruption hence this should be checked.

ENDS: