Ruto defends more taxes imposed on Kenyans, says it's only way for country to avoid more debt

Speaking in Elgeyo Marakwet on Sunday, the president said Kenyans must pay their taxes diligently if the country is to return to a state similar to President Mwai Kibaki's regime when he said the economy boomed. 

"We are going to make the necessary decisions to provide the necessary leadership for Kenya to move forward... when Kibaki left office, tax as a percentage of GDP was 23 per cent. By 2022, tax as a percentage of GDP was 14 per cent. That is why we sank into debt because we did not want to do what other countries did," Ruto said.

Reliving the late former president's call for Kenyans to pay their taxes diligently, Ruto said continued borrowing is slavery, and should be discouraged at all costs. 

"We are not going to be slaves. We will have to pay our taxes to be independent as a country," he added. 

The president's sentiments come amid opposition from many Kenyans on several new taxes imposed since Ruto's Kenya Kwanza administration took office in September 2022. 

The new taxes have seen the cost of living go up in the country.