President William Ruto has defended the government’s decision to maintain fuel taxes despite growing public pressure over the rising cost of fuel, while also criticizing politicians calling for the immediate removal of the levies.
Speaking during a national address from Mombasa on May 22, Ruto appeared to respond directly to proposals by Ndindi Nyoro, who recently called for amendments to fuel taxation laws following sharp increases in pump prices announced by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
The president dismissed such proposals as “political opportunism,” arguing that some leaders were taking advantage of the frustrations Kenyans are facing due to the global fuel crisis.
Ruto stated that leadership requires difficult but responsible decisions, warning that removing all fuel taxes and levies would leave the government without enough money to fund essential public services.
According to the president, fuel taxes help support major sectors including road construction, security operations, education, healthcare and the fertiliser subsidy programme aimed at improving food security.
He questioned whether the country would be ready to halt road projects, reduce security funding or disrupt operations in hospitals and schools if the government stopped collecting revenue from fuel taxes.
The head of state further argued that the fuel crisis is not unique to Kenya, saying many countries across the world are also struggling with rising global oil prices caused by international supply disruptions and geopolitical tensions.
Ruto maintained that the government must strike a balance between easing the burden on citizens and protecting long-term economic stability.
At the same time, the president warned that the duration of the global fuel crisis remains uncertain and prices could rise further in the coming months, making careful economic planning necessary.
His remarks came shortly after Ndindi Nyoro announced plans to introduce amendments to the VAT Act and Road Maintenance Levy regulations in Parliament in an effort to lower fuel prices.
The Ndindi Nyoro proposal followed the latest fuel price review, which saw the price of super petrol rise sharply while diesel prices also increased significantly, sparking concerns among households, transport operators and businesses already struggling with the high cost of living.
The ongoing debate has now become one of the biggest political and economic discussions in Kenya, with critics blaming heavy taxation for worsening the cost of living while the government insists the taxes are necessary to keep the country running and protect the economy from further shocks.
Speaking during a national address from Mombasa on May 22, Ruto appeared to respond directly to proposals by Ndindi Nyoro, who recently called for amendments to fuel taxation laws following sharp increases in pump prices announced by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
The president dismissed such proposals as “political opportunism,” arguing that some leaders were taking advantage of the frustrations Kenyans are facing due to the global fuel crisis.
Ruto stated that leadership requires difficult but responsible decisions, warning that removing all fuel taxes and levies would leave the government without enough money to fund essential public services.
According to the president, fuel taxes help support major sectors including road construction, security operations, education, healthcare and the fertiliser subsidy programme aimed at improving food security.
He questioned whether the country would be ready to halt road projects, reduce security funding or disrupt operations in hospitals and schools if the government stopped collecting revenue from fuel taxes.
The head of state further argued that the fuel crisis is not unique to Kenya, saying many countries across the world are also struggling with rising global oil prices caused by international supply disruptions and geopolitical tensions.
Ruto maintained that the government must strike a balance between easing the burden on citizens and protecting long-term economic stability.
At the same time, the president warned that the duration of the global fuel crisis remains uncertain and prices could rise further in the coming months, making careful economic planning necessary.
His remarks came shortly after Ndindi Nyoro announced plans to introduce amendments to the VAT Act and Road Maintenance Levy regulations in Parliament in an effort to lower fuel prices.
The Ndindi Nyoro proposal followed the latest fuel price review, which saw the price of super petrol rise sharply while diesel prices also increased significantly, sparking concerns among households, transport operators and businesses already struggling with the high cost of living.
The ongoing debate has now become one of the biggest political and economic discussions in Kenya, with critics blaming heavy taxation for worsening the cost of living while the government insists the taxes are necessary to keep the country running and protect the economy from further shocks.
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Politics