Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga has called on Kenyans to adopt tax boycotts as a form of political protest against President William Ruto’s administration.
Odinga has urged Kenyans to implement measures such as carpooling, reducing non-essential travel, and walking instead of driving in order to hinder the government’s ability to collect increased VAT on fuel products, which rose from 8 percent to 16 percent following the enactment of the controversial Finance Bill, 2023.
“Let us deny Ruto the fuel tax by limiting consumption of petrol and diesel. One way to do this is to carpool. Let us arrange to make regular journeys in a single vehicle whenever possible; give each other a ride, cut down on non-essential travel and walk instead of driving whenever possible,” stated Odinga at Kamukunji Grounds in Nairobi.
Odinga called on the police to allow Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) to carry passengers beyond their usual capacity, while also advising matatu owners against increasing fares to compensate for the surge in fuel prices.
“I appeal to all employers to allow their workers time to walk to and from work. I appeal to matatu owners to support tax boycotts. While observing safety measures, maintain the current fare but double your carrying capacity as part of the civil disobedience,” Odinga emphasized.
In addition, Odinga urged business operators to find ways to evade tax payments.
“I appeal to businesses to disable or avoid Electronic Tax Registers, make nil returns on VAT and instead give discounts to customers. This way, we shall recover the VAT Ruto is taking illegally through fuel,” he explained.
Furthermore, Odinga urged employers to disregard deductions from employees’ salaries and advised Kenyan motorists not to yield to any of the Executive’s official motorcades, except for ambulances.
“They may sound the sirens as they wish, but everyone must follow the traffic, except for ambulances,” he stated.
He further encouraged the Kenyan public, including local content creators, to be vocal and join Azimio in condemning the Ruto administration.
“Let us name, shame, follow, and isolate the traitors at every turn. Let us picket their public and private offices and their homes until they join the call to have the Finance Act repealed. The famous Kenyans on Twitter, the content creators, the Tiktokers, I have a request for you. Let us gather and share information about the traitors; their Twitter and other social media accounts, telephone numbers, and email addresses and use these to show the oppressors that power belongs to us, the people,” Odinga passionately expressed.
The opposition leader also encouraged performing artists to utilize their songs and music as a means of expressing dissatisfaction with President Ruto’s government.
“I appeal to our performing artists. Let our songs and music be a source of pain to the traitors. Let our music carry our disappointments and support the fight against Ruto and his contempt for us, until Ruto learns to respect the people,” he concluded.
