Gatanga Member of Parliament Edward Muriu who is also the Secretary of Legal Affairs for the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) revealed that President Ruto has agreed to lower the housing levy from 3% to 1.5%.
“Thanks, H.E for listening to Kenyans on the tax bill proposal with levy coming down from 3% to 1.5%, Kenyans are happy,” the MP posted on Twitter complete with a photo of himself, Ruto and other top government officials. Muriu tweeted.
“The next battlefront is KPLC power bills. They have doubled confront the power Purchase Agreements head on,” he added.
Thanks H.E for Listening to Kenyans on the Tax Bill Proposals.Housing Levy Coming down from 3% to 1.5%, Kenyans are happy.
The Next Battle front is KPLC Power Bills.They Have Doubled.Confront the Power Purchase Agreements headon. #earthquake #sautisol ,#Museveni BREAKING NEWS. pic.twitter.com/qf6XhN4nri— Hon. Wakili Edward Múríu. (@WakiliEdward) June 12, 2023
The legislator revealed this move by the president a day after the Finance and Planning Committee of the National Assembly made additional recommendations to several contentious clauses in the Finance Bill 2023.
Among their recommendations was the proposal to lower the 3% Housing Levy to 1.5 % which would only be deducted from employees.
Also Read: President Ruto Defends 3pc Housing Levy, Terms it as “Collective Business for Kenyans”
The committee further recommended that the housing levy be implemented in January 2024 to put in place a watertight legal framework ahead of its implementation.
Furthermore, then chairperson of the committee Kuria Kimani on Sunday, June 11 stated that they are recommending that the 15% VAT on Digital Content Creation be reduced to 5.
They have also recommended tax waivers on Agricultural inputs, vaccines, and electric cars.
Conversely, the National Assembly Finance Committee has recommended the retention of the 16% VAT on Petroleum products.