Kenya is set to reintroduce controversial tax hikes that sparked deadly protests earlier this year, the government announced Friday.
This comes as the country faces a significant debt burden and seeks to boost its revenue.
The government plans to introduce three new tax and finance bills to parliament, reviving several proposals from the previously scrapped finance bill.
These include VAT hikes and new taxes on the digital sector, particularly affecting freelancers in the food delivery and ride-hailing industries.
President William Ruto defended the need for increased tax revenue, citing the country’s development challenges and the need to support its growing workforce.
He aims to raise tax revenues from 14% to 22% of GDP within a decade.
Meanwhile, Kenya has a new deputy president.Abraham Kithure Kindiki, a former interior minister, was sworn into office on Friday.
This follows the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua, who was accused of ethnically divisive politics.
Kindiki, a lawyer and academic, is expected to play a key role in the government, particularly in supporting the administration’s economic agenda.