Kenyans will have to pay more for mobile money transfers if MPs back President Uhuru Kenyatta’s memorandum on the Finance Bill, 2018.
The president, in his proposed amendments, seeks Parliament’s approval for a 12 per cent in excise duty on fees charged for money transfer by mobile phone service providers.
The amendments, which are due for a plenary discussion at the National Assembly on Thursday, have also seen the introduction of a 15 per cent excise duty on telephone and internet data services. Uhuru’s proposal also factors a 12 per cent duty on fees charged for money transfer services by banks, money transfer agencies and other financial service providers.
The president has also proposed a 20 per cent excise duty on motor vehicles. This is excluding locally assembled vehicles, public school buses, and motor vehicles within tariffs that are exempt from such duty.
A 30 per cent duty will be charged on motor vehicles of tariff number 8703.24.90 and 8703.33.90.
Uhuru has also proposed an amendment to the Bill by introducing a 20 per cent tax on sugar confectionery, including select white chocolate, chocolate blocks, slabs or bars.
The news was met with fury from angry Kenyans who strongly criticized and his Jubilee administration..
In the Memorandum on fuel VAT that President Uhuru Kenyatta forwarded to Parliament, Telephone and internet data services shall be charged excise duty of 15% at the rate of their excisable value. Brace yourselves folks. The terrain just is about to get rough.
— Lord Abraham Mutai (@ItsMutai) September 19, 2018
Uhuru-Ushuru
https://twitter.com/kilunda_/status/1042296688797470721
Karma..
We laughed at Ugandans for their social media tax. Little did we know that President Uhuru Kenyatta was seriously taking down notes. He now wants to tax the INTERNET heavily! Tough times ahead!
— juma G. 🇰🇪 (@jumaf3) September 19, 2018
President Uhuru recommends revision of mobile phone transaction excise duty to 20% from 10%, bank transaction 20% & phone, internet costs 15%.
Hello fellow Chinese of Kenyan origin!ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜
— Ciku 🇰🇪 (@Ciku_Muriithi) September 18, 2018
Apologies Uganda..
As a kenya we should apologise to Ugandans for thinking we had a better president than them.
Uhuru is trash.
— Baba Ray (@KymoneyDj) September 19, 2018
The handshake handed RAO a blank cheque, but it appears it's also postdated. A date we don't know. He can't cash it unless he supports Uhuru fully.
— Mattey (@Sanga_JK) September 19, 2018