Azimio leader Raila Odinga has dimissed the new taxes levied on farmers as cruel punishment and asked farmers to resist them.
Speaking after chairing the Azimio Summit, the top decision making body, Raila said a mayriad of ne taxes by the government are a burden to Kenyans.
He said Azimio remains deeply opposed, to the idea of subjecting farm produce to taxation.
“It is our position that forcing farmers to part with Ksh5 for every Sh100 they make from their farm produce is unreasonable and cruel. We encourage our farmers to resist this tax,” said Raila.
On the state of the economy, the Summit maintains the view that the tax burden being borne by Kenyans is unreasonable and unsustainable.
“The Kenya Kwanza regime is failing the test of being caring and compassionate. Paying taxes should never be a punishment but a patriotic duty. Under the Kenya Kwanza regime, taxation is a punishment that is hurting the entire economy,” said Raila.
He said they remain opposed to the 16 per cent tax on petroleum products and the housing tax and its colonial undertones that make it look like the infamous hut tax of the colonial era.
“We are deeply opposed to high PAYE rates that Kenyan workers are being forced to endure. We remain opposed to the subjection of retiree pensions to taxation,” said Raila.
On NADCO, Raila said they were adequately briefed on the progress, including a number of Bills, 9, to be exact, that have been lined up for the implementation of the report.
They expressed gratitude to Parliament for the adoption of the report that was a product of bipartisan consensus and wide public participation.
“We retain the view that the report must be implemented as is. It is also our position that the processing of the NADCO report and the bills should be fast tracked,” he said.
He said that they regrettably have also been informed of forces in Kenya Kwanza, in and outside parliament, who are determined to undermine the report.
Raila warned those forces that should any efforts to undermine or tamper with the report succeed, there will be a very heavy price to pay.
He asked President Ruto to rein in the Speakers of the two houses of Parliament and a number of members of the National Executive who are hell-bent to derail NADCO.
On the issue of Rt. Hon. Odinga’s bid for AUC chairmanship, the Summit reiterated our earlier stand as a coalition to support, in every way we can, to ensure Mr. Odinga takes the seat.
They said it was their position as a coalition that it is in the best interest of the country and the East African Community that Rt. Hon Odinga takes the seat.
They appreciated the support of Kenyas neighbours and those from across the continent who have extended endorsement to Rt. Hon. Odinga.
