Taxing Troubles: The Strain Of Kenya's Growing Fiscal Burden
Africa
Business
One of the fiscal measures of a country in raising funds for economic development is by adopting taxation policies. The government can either decide to increase taxes on commodities and services to provide more revenue for development. Nevertheless, the government can also reduce taxation and broaden it to a wider tax base. Concerning this, the Kenyan government had proposed taxation hikes in almost all sectors, which prompted Generation Z youths to voice ‘Occupy Everywhere, Reject Finance Bill 2024’. The agitation was driven in all social media platforms mostly X Spaces and TikTok by Gen Z youths, as they called out the government for being inhumane in tax proposals of Finance Bill 2024. Some of the proposals in the Finance Bill were; a yearly motor vehicle taxation, a Tax Hike on pads, taxation on freehold land, a hike on digital services, individuals who have attained 25 years with no jobs and being housed to pay a tax of Ksh 300; and introduction of taxation on livestock. These tax proposals have resulted in anger among Kenyan Youths, leading to protests for 3 weeks. It is through these protests that for the first time the Kenyan Government dropped the punitive tax proposals. However, in the process of calling out the government on punitive tax measures, youths have lost lives and most of them have been injured. If indeed the government cares, Kenyan people are waiting to see more being done as they seek more radical changes in the government, which has lost touch with its citizens. This is a lesson to all Kenyan Leaders and those in office, that people watch, and when silence and anger tip to the brim, the outbursts can spread to ugly scenes. The youths should also not relent in the quest for accountability and better services from the government. They should also engage in political activities as they form the largest proportion that makes up the Kenyan population.
8 MONTHS AGO
