Deputy President William Ruto has urged Kenyans to calm down as public rage over inflated and punitive fuel prices boiled up.
The DP promised the government would carefully look into all the concerns raised by Kenyans regarding the rising cost of fuel and come up with a solution.
Addressing a congregation at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, North Horr, on Sunday, September 2, Ruto said the executive would hold talks with Members of Parliament to find an amicable solution to the fuel chaos. "Kama serikali tutaketi chini na bunge ili tuelewane (As a government we will sit down with Parliament and talk so we can reach an agreement).
We will find a solution that lessens burden on poor Kenyans but also allows the government to continue with its development plans." the DP said.
The National Treasury Cabinet Secretary, Henry Rotich, had insisted the 16% fuel tax will be implemented as it is law.
Rotich on Friday, August 31, said the move by Parliament to suspend implementation of the fuel tax by two years was null and void while citing increased international fuel prices.
The lawmakers suspended the new Value Added Tax (VAT) on petroleum products on Wednesday, August 29, following public uproar.
Unfortunately, President Uhuru Kenyatta flew out of the country (to China) before appending his signature to the amended tax law, which would have granted Kenyans the much needed relief.
A litre of petrol now retails at KSh 127 and diesel KSh 111.78 in Nairobi. Residents of Mandera will pay the highest of KSh 141.61 for the same quantity of petrol, whereas those in Bungoma, Meru, Bondo, Meru, Bungoma, Isebania and other places across the country will part with KSh 130 per litre of petrol.
A section of politicians are now calling on the president to come to the rescue of poor Kenyans by signing the amended tax law.
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