The 16 per cent VAT on petroleum products will take effect on Saturday, Treasury CS Henry Rotich confirmed.
This will see pump prices for petrol and diesel go up by 10 per cent while Kerosene will increase by 12 per cent, Rotich said. In effect, a litre of petrol will retail at Sh125.21, Sh112.90 for diesel and Sh95.19 for a litre of kerosene.
Rotich’s directive goes against Parliament’s decision on Wednesday to suspend the implementation of the levy until September 1, 2020. The amendment to the Finance Bill, 2018, moved in the National Assembly by Suna East MP Junet Mohamed was meant to cushion Kenyans from high cost of living. The implementation of the VAT now spells hard times for the majority of Kenyans as prices of basic commodities, including bus fare, will rise.
Kenyans online were agitated by the move and in true Kenyan fashion vented their anger via Social Media.
Dear @Ukenyatta, @KanzeDena, @NziokaWaita, @StateHouseKenya. This fuel regime is EXPLOITATIVE. It is OPPRESSION. Its is Regressive. Why would Kenyans suffer and no word from you? Why are we like this? You guys acting like you are not seeing these tweets? #PunguzaBeiYaMafuta
— Lord Abraham Mutai (@ItsMutai) September 1, 2018
Babu Owino leading by example..
We can't be slaves in our own country. 16% VAT tax on fuel MUST fall!#PunguzaBeiYaMafuta
— Babu Owino (@HEBabuOwino) September 1, 2018
A message to the head of State
We never voted for you @Ukenyatta to oppress us, Rotich should know that we never voted for him #PunguzaBeiYaMafuta
— Gichuhis™ (@SirGichuhi) September 1, 2018
New solutions emerge..
We are asking ALL Kenyans starting TODAY to park their cars ,motorcycles and STOP using matatus in protest of the high fuel prices as a result of Rotich imposing 16% VAT on petroleum products .Let us all BIKE to our destinations. #PunguzaBeiYaMafuta #AmendVATAct #PunguzaMizigo pic.twitter.com/SnJ7nDPXzL
— #PunguzaMizigoKenya (@EAukot) September 1, 2018
We are waiting too..
Am waiting for that day when all Kenyans will come out and protest for this #PunguzaBeiYaMafuta.We are living in denial yet we are suffering
— Manogo 🇰🇪 (@MosesManogo) September 1, 2018
And more suggestions arose..
Dear @UKenyatta,
Please increase the oil price by 100% not meagre 16%. Push the fake "middle class" against the wall. Only then, they will realise they have a lot to lose when the Kenyattas, Odingas and Mois continue to milk the nation dry. #PunguzaBeiYaMafuta— Thuo Kimani Githuku (@thuogithuku) September 1, 2018
This could work though..
Dear @UKenyatta do you mean hiking the price of fuel is the only way to rause the money required to fund our budget
The first thing dhould be slashing the MPs salary#PunguzaBeiYaMafuta— AkwapiKE Ⓜ️ (@AkwapiKE) August 31, 2018
Dear @UKenyatta…its 23.08…in about 40 mins fuel prices go up…nimejaza full tank i saved about 900 bob…i hope by the time this fuel ends in a few days you will come to our rescue and i will not have to pay 16% extra #PunguzaBeiYaMafuta @HKRotich pic.twitter.com/DWpfO3XHgM
— Ahmed (@MediHassan) August 31, 2018