The Kenya National
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) on Friday urged the country’s
government to reverse the 16 per cent Value Added Tax on fuel.
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) on Friday urged the country’s
government to reverse the 16 per cent Value Added Tax on fuel.
The chamber said in Nairobi that Kenya’s economic growth
momentum for this year could be snuffed out if the widely unpopular 16 per cent
Value Added Tax on fuel was maintained.
momentum for this year could be snuffed out if the widely unpopular 16 per cent
Value Added Tax on fuel was maintained.
The chamber said, in a statement, that the curb would be caused
by higher prices of goods and transport.
by higher prices of goods and transport.
“We are asking the government to re-think its options for
financing its development and recurrent expenditure instead of overtaxing
various products that already bear large tax burdens,” the chamber said.
financing its development and recurrent expenditure instead of overtaxing
various products that already bear large tax burdens,” the chamber said.
The Treasury could not immediately be reached for comment.
The tax, which came into force on Sept. 1, is part of a
government bid to boost revenue collection in order to narrow its fiscal
deficit and secure an extension of a standby credit facility from the
International Monetary Fund.
government bid to boost revenue collection in order to narrow its fiscal
deficit and secure an extension of a standby credit facility from the
International Monetary Fund.
The High Court on Thursday ordered a temporary suspension of the
tax, but prices at petrol stations visited by Reuters on Friday had not come
back down.
tax, but prices at petrol stations visited by Reuters on Friday had not come
back down.
The finance ministry expects economic growth to rebound to 5.8
per cent this year after drought, jitters over a presidential election and sluggish
private sector credit growth cut last year’s growth to 4.9 per cent.
per cent this year after drought, jitters over a presidential election and sluggish
private sector credit growth cut last year’s growth to 4.9 per cent.
“The recent resurgence of the economy will be negatively
impacted by this move and this will reverse any growth we have seen in the past
year,” the chamber said.
impacted by this move and this will reverse any growth we have seen in the past
year,” the chamber said.
The new VAT on fuel sent the retail price of petrol up by 12 per
cent per litre.
cent per litre.
Transport operators have also raised their charges and some
petrol dealers have gone on strike to protest against the new tax, causing fuel
shortages.
petrol dealers have gone on strike to protest against the new tax, causing fuel
shortages.
The tax was originally included in a law passed in 2013, but was
postponed several times, amid protests about its impact.
postponed several times, amid protests about its impact.
The revenue authority introduced the tax on Saturday but
President Uhuru Kenyatta could still reverse it by signing a bill postponing it
again.
President Uhuru Kenyatta could still reverse it by signing a bill postponing it
again.
Justin Muturi, the speaker of the national assembly, told
Reuters on Friday the legislature was consulting with the finance ministry to
find a way forward on the tax.
Reuters on Friday the legislature was consulting with the finance ministry to
find a way forward on the tax.
Analysts urged the government to cut expenditure, reduce wastage
of public funds and deal with corruption, which some past studies have found
account for the loss of up to a third of the annual budget.
of public funds and deal with corruption, which some past studies have found
account for the loss of up to a third of the annual budget.
