President William Ruto recently expressed his admiration for the more than eight million Kenyans who diligently fulfilled their tax responsibilities by June 30. These citizens not only met but exceeded the set targets by an impressive 26%. He specifically recognized Lillian Nyawanda and Risper Muthoni Simiyu for their outstanding achievements in surpassing tax collection benchmarks.
During the Taxpayers’ Day Awards ceremony held at State House in Nairobi on November 2, 2024, Ruto took a moment to celebrate these top contributors. /X.
The President has called upon citizens to report any incidents of tax evasion and corruption, making it clear that such misconduct hinders economic progress. He emphasized the critical role of public awareness in nurturing the nation’s development and trust in government institutions.
“We all have a responsibility to combat tax evasion and corruption,” Ruto declared, highlighting the injustice of allowing tax dodgers to enjoy public services while robbing the country of essential resources.
Encouraging active participation, he urged citizens to utilize the Kenya Revenue Authority’s (KRA) iWhistle platform for confidential reporting of any unethical behavior. This initiative has already aided in recovering Sh4.22 billion, thanks to 883 reports from vigilant citizens.
Furthermore, Ruto pointed out recent positive trends in the economy, noting a drop in inflation from 9.2% in 2022 to an encouraging 2.7% by October 2024. He also mentioned a stronger Kenyan shilling and a commendable GDP growth rate of 5.6% in 2023. Looking ahead, he outlined ambitious plans to boost the tax-to-GDP ratio from 14% to 22% within the next ten years, highlighting the crucial role that technology and digital innovations will play in enhancing compliance and revenue growth.
Assuring the public of financial accountability, Ruto promised, “No funds entrusted to the government will be lost under my watch,” reiterating his commitment to safeguarding taxpayer money.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
