President William Ruto has stated that Kenyans living in the diaspora and paying taxes in host countries will not be subjected to double taxation.
Speaking during a meeting with Kenyans in the United States in Atlanta on May 20, Ruto said that it was unfair to subject those Kenyans to double taxation.
Additionally, he stated that his move to increase taxation in Kenya was meant to build the economy and reduce overreliance to loans.
He noted that Kenyans living in the United States were already subjected to a long list of taxes, which he said facilitated the growth of the American economy.
“Please, you people who have a pay slip here, does your pay slip have a long list of taxes? Isn’t it long? That is how you build a country my friends. You build a country using your own taxes.
“You can call me Zakayo, but we will pay tax to build this country. I know sometimes you ask about taxation back at home. I want to sure you that the law in Kenya today gives you a tax debate.
If you are paying taxes in America, we will not require you to pay at home. Because we do not want to tax a Kenyan twice. If you have paid here, you do not have to pay back home,” he said.
The announcement came at a time when manufacturers, businesses and other taxpayers in Kenya continued to lament over an increase in various taxes proposed in the Finance Bill 2024.
Earlier, Ruto had indicated that his goal was to increase taxation from 14 per cent to 16 per cent by the end of 2024 and 22 per cent by the end of his first term.
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Ruto on his Ambitious Plans for Kenyans.
At the same time, the president noted that since he assumed office in 2022, he had made difficult but necessary decisions to build Kenya.
For instance, the head of state noted that he facilitated the change of the model that was used to fund student’s education on universities, improving education and limiting misappropriation of funds.
Additionally, he said that he had been able to ensure a reduction in the food importation rate, especially for grains like Maize. Ruto also announced that he had put in place plans to ensure that by 2025, Kenya did not import any more Maize.
“We are going to invest in production. By next year, we are not going to be importing a grain of maize. We will move on to rice, wheat, and in five years, the one billion dollars we use in import of edible oils,” Ruto said.
On the other hand, President Ruto said that Kenya would stop importing edible oils in the following five years. He noted that his administration had initiated investments in the cultivation of soya, sunflower, and canola, with plans to develop local palm oil production.
“I want to make sure that sunflower, soya, canola, and palm oil are grown in Kenya, so we don’t have to import again,” he added.
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Details of Ruto’s Trip to US
Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto joined Mayor Andre Dickens of Atlanta in the United States for an array of activities ahead of their Visit to the White House in Washington, D.C.
Ruto was scheduled to meet with civic leaders and luminaries from Atlanta’s global services industries, creative economy and international health institutions.
Also, during the different meetings, they will discuss with Mayor Dickens strategies in the development of affordable housing.
Additionally, the two will be accorded a world-class hospitality for which Atlanta is renowned and will discuss how they can strengthen their cultural and economic partnerships.
“I look forward to learning how we can further strengthen our cultural and economic partnerships, as well as joining fellow leaders in providing the world-class hospitality for which Atlanta is renowned,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens in a past statement.
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