The Gnawing Silence of President Kenyatta That is Perturbing Kenyans

On the 31st of August, President Uhuru Kenyatta left the country for Beijing to attend the China-Africa Summit with other African heads of states.

As government officials bid him farewell and as his plane left the ground, the country was in a state of fear as to whether the 16 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) would be implemented the following day (1st of September).

In parliament, legislators, in the last minute rush, as though they had just realized the existence of the 16 percent VAT on a petroleum product, voted to suspend the implementation of the same for further two years to 1st of September 2020.

The following day, on 1st of September, Kenyans woke up to the directive from the National Treasury together with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) as well as Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) of coming into effect of the 16 percent VAT on all petroleum products.

Within no time, the price of super petrol jumped to 127 shillings per liter, that of diesel to 115 shillings and that of kerosene to 97 shillings in Nairobi with some areas such as Busia the price hitting 131 shillings per liter.

Private fuel transporters downed their tools to protest the move, creating a countrywide fuel shortage three days after the implementation of the same with Kenyans feeling the heat.

Already millers have warned Kenyans that in the next one week, the price of both maize and wheat flour will increase in what is likely to bring back the memories of ‘unga revolution.’

But there was hope. The country waited for President Uhuru Kenyatta with an abated breath with the amendment that was to be presented before him being the only hope that will see Kenyans paying less for fuel and eventually for other commodities down the value chain.

The President finally jetted in on Sunday. Contrary to what was expected, the Head of State came back into the country silently, and as if not to be seen by the angry and ‘fuel-complaining’ Kenyans, retreated to Statehouse where he has remained mute since.

On Tuesday, it emerged that the President is yet to receive the said amendment, meaning Kenyans will still continue paying the high fuel prices without really knowing whether their president will sign the amendment or reject it all the same.