Kenya Readies Revised Eco-Levy Tax Amid Crackdown on Pollution
Treasury Secretary John Mbadi has confirmed that a revised tax proposal, aiming to curb pollution and waste management, will soon be tabled before Kenya’s Parliament. The eco-levy tax, which has been a topic of much controversy, has undergone significant changes, now excluding sanitary towels from its original scope.
Mbadi, speaking with Citizen TV Kenya, revealed that almost 50 measures are being considered in this revised tax amendment bill. The new proposed tax seeks to target companies as well, with the minister standing firm against opposition from conglomerates such as Coca-Cola, which disputes the 10% levy on locally produced plastics.
The government’s renewed determination to implement this tax comes after widely publicized anti-tax protests throughout June, forcing President William Ruto to reassess the budget and explore additional revenue streams. As part of this pursuit, the authorities are also planning to extend their tax amnesty period by six months.
During an official handover ceremony last week, Minister Mbadi expressed his desire to restitute certain provisions from Kenya’s scrapped Finance Bill 2024.
Meanwhile, some opposition leaders have sent a message to the Judiciary, urging strict adherence to the rejected Finance Bill 2024.
Additional reporting by AP
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