WILLIAM RUTO DELIVERS A VERY TOUGH MESSAGE

President-elect William Ruto has underscored that there will be no room for tax-evaders in the country once he takes over from outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Speaking at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) on Thursday, Ruto noted that Kenya has the potential “to live within its means”, should all citizens carry out their constitutional mandate to pay taxes, but the country has failed to live up to its potential for years now.

According to the president-elect, tax evasion creates negative impacts on the economy such as significantly reducing government revenue that fund critical public projects in infrastructure, education and other services.

This, Ruto went on, is something that his government hopes to address by working hand-in-hand with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to ensure all Kenyans pay taxes.

The president-elect spoke when he attended Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja’s swearing-in ceremony.

“I have spoken to KRA on how to raise revenue and I commit that we will work together so that Kenya can live within its means. There will be no tall men or big girls; the rule of law is going to equalise every Kenyan so that everyone can pay their taxes,” said Ruto.

“There will be no exemption on anybody on account of paying taxes. All of us, irrespective of who we are, will be expected to live by the rule of law.”

Ruto correspondingly added that his government’s first order of business will be to ensure that all counties build the capacity to independently generate revenue from available resources to add to allocations set aside for county governments.

He likewise stated that his government will ensure that county allocations are disbursed to the devolved governments on time to minimise cases of delayed development projects owing to pending bills.

“We will make it possible that shared revenue will be released on time and in accordance with the law so that we can better manage our counties and make it possible for you governors to deliver on your mandate and commitments you have made to your respective constituents,” he said.

While congratulating 45 other governor-elects expected to be sworn in today, seven of which are women, Ruto told Sakaja, whose win he labelled as miraculous, that he was free to consult him on any matter pertaining to running Nairobi County.

“I will be available to consult. You know the commitments we made to the people of Nairobi in matters of garbage, transport infrastructure as well as making sure every hustle will count. I will be there to support you,” said the President-elect.