Wetangula threatens to call for protest against 16% fuel tax

Bungoma Senator and FORD-Kenya Party leader Moses Wetangula has threatened to call for a protest against the 16 percent value added tax (VAT) imposed on petroleum products.

Terming himself the official opposition leader, Wetangula, who was speaking on Sunday in Bungoma, asked the government to immediately withdraw the fuel tax, failure to which he will call for civil disobedience.

“We want to urge the government to immediately rescind the imposition of tax on fuel and fuel products, by the president assenting to the Bill that was passed in the National Assembly where MPs suspended the imposition of this tax for another two years,” said Wetangula.

“In the event that this tax issue is not resolved, then I as the official opposition leader, we are going to take serious steps including calling for civil disobedience in the process of making the government rescind these taxes.”

According to the Bungoma Senator, the government should explore other measures of developing the country without overburdening the citizens.

“As a party we are saying this tax should be done away with altogether. The people of this country are already overtaxed. Over 50 percent of what we pay for fuel goes to tax. You develop a country by prudent management of resources and not imposition of taxes,” he said.

The High Court in Bungoma on Thursday temporarily stopped implementation of the 16% VAT on petroleum products pending determination of case filed by three Kisumu residents.

The ruling was made after a group of youth in Bungoma sued Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich for effecting the new fuel levy.