Speaking during a live television interview on Thursday, November 12, 2026, Sankok dismissed the draft rules as "retrogressive, archaic, unpalatable, ignominious and unacceptable," warning that the move threatens to erode hard-won protections for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
The controversy stems from draft income tax exemption regulations recently published by the KRA on behalf of the National Treasury for public review.
Under the proposed framework, authorities plan to categorize disability severity levels and introduce a KSh 1,000 processing fee during vetting—measures that have also drawn sharp opposition from nominated Senator Crystal Asige.
Sankok argued that categorizing disability levels for taxation purposes misunderstands the economic realities faced by PWDs, emphasizing that tax exemptions are not favors, but necessary equalizers meant to offset the steep cost of specialized assistive equipment.
Illustrating the daily financial burden borne by citizens living with disabilities, Sankok contrasted the cost of standard stationery with specialized tools required for accessibility.
"The pen that you use in your office is 50 shillings. For a blind person, the pen is a Braille, which is KSh 180,000. I have an extra expense.
That is why we came up with this issue of tax exemption," he explained. He maintained that imposing additional bureaucratic hurdles and financial barriers undermines the constitutional mandate to ensure PWDs live dignified, independent lives, urging the National Treasury and KRA to withdraw the contentious provisions following public participation.
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https://peopledaily.digital/news/sankok-slams-kra-over-plan-to-assess-disability-levels-for-tax-exemption
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