Raila, Kalonzo back Uhuru on reduction of fuel V.A.T

Opposition leaders Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka have lauded the move by President Uhuru Kenyatta to slash the Value Added Tax (V.A.T) by half saying it will effectively reduce the cost of living.

The two leaders said it is now upon Parliament to take up the matter and legislate on it and for service providers to reduce the prices of commodities.

“I want to applaud President Kenyatta for listening to the cry of the common mwananchi and reducing the V.A.T from 16 to 8 percent; subsequently we expect our business people to reduce the price of commodities which they had already increased to affordable prices,” said Wiper Democratic Movement leader Kalonzo Musyoka.

“The country is now united and, through the Building Bridges initiative, we continue to make sure that citizens forget their differences towards one Kenya.”

Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga on his part stated: “After this budget, Kenyans cried because of the 16 % V.A.T. Now it has been reduced and the ball is on parliament, we need to balance development and affordable cost of living.”

Odinga further spoke on the fight against corruption saying the vice was responsible for the loss of millions of public funds into the pockets of a few individuals.

Raila and Kalonzo spoke during the wedding ceremony of Khalid Nadhif Jama, son of former Garissa governor Nadhif Jama, and Nasra Sheikh Nuh Mohammed in Nairobi on Saturday afternoon.