The Mt Kenya Times 
President William Ruto filing tax returns
By: Joseph Mutua Ndonga
Worth Noting:
- Here, the president fell short of saying. Some of you owed loyalties to my political opponents and you are serving their interests.
- You know if we don’t meet targets, I (President) will resort to imposing more taxes to Kenyans and over- borrowing foreign loans. This will give my opponents political fodder to fight me.
- President Ruto is facing challenges similar to those encountered by his predecessors – Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta.
- During the era of the previous administrations and even the current one, the prosecution crafted and read a common thread that goes.
- We have withdrawn these cases because of two reasons: Lack of sufficient evidence and witnesses’ refusing to testify. This would happen to high profile cases involving the rich and well-connected personalities.
A few days ago, President William Ruto became the first head of state to personally file his tax returns at Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) headquarters in Nairobi.
In a brief speech to the staff, the President took this opportunity to register his dissatisfaction with performance of their duties which he termed as below expectations.
When I assumed power, I met you and we set out the targets. You have not met them and this was deliberate.
As a country, we are facing a serious financial crisis and this has incapacitated our job of delivering services to the people of Kenya.
Instead of helping my government to expand the scope of revenues collections so as to bridge the deficit gaps, you are busy planning how to sabotage me from fulfilling the pre-election pledges.
To succeed, he accused them of turning KRA into a den of corruption, wanton bribe-taking and adverse interference with modern technology.
Besides, the parallel stamp duty collection excercise paved the way for the loss of Sh7 billion.
While vowing to deal firmly with state officers engaging in corruption, the President warned the KRA rogue officials.
Your days are numbered. I know some of you do not mean well for the country. You are out to sabotage my administration.
I’m coming for you. If you don’t shape up, I will definitely sack all of you.
Here, the president fell short of saying. Some of you owed loyalties to my political opponents and you are serving their interests.
You know if we don’t meet targets, I (President) will resort to imposing more taxes to Kenyans and over- borrowing foreign loans. This will give my opponents political fodder to fight me.
President Ruto is facing challenges similar to those encountered by his predecessors- Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta.
I remember President Uhuru Kenyatta issuing a stern warning.
While addressing a gathering at KICC, he faced at his Office (OP) at Harambee House and stated. I know corruption is rampant there. I’m going to purge corrupt officials.
A few days later, the heads started rolling. A number of top officials working in state departments of finance and procurement were sacked and others suspended.
For those arraigned in court, no conviction was secured.
Many blamed the prosecution officers for letting them off-hook after receiving hefty bribes from them.
For President William Ruto, I have no reason to doubt his commitment to slay the dragon of corruption.
The other day he set the ball rolling when he sacked a PS and dozens of other top state officials linked to KEMSA and toxic sugars scams.
He asked the anti-graft bodies to carry out speedy investigations and bring the culprits to book.
However, some of the officials were somehow lucky. They were either transferred or suspended.
For now, the buck stops with state agencies falling under the criminal justice system.
I hope they will not let President Ruto down by looking for excuses and scapegoat.
During the era of the previous administrations and even the current one, the prosecution crafted and read a common thread that goes.
We have withdrawn these cases because of two reasons: Lack of sufficient evidence and witnesses’ refusing to testify. This would happen to high profile cases involving the rich and well-connected personalities.
They used a small fraction of ill-gotten wealth to bribe the witnesses to keep off the cases and even recant their evidence.
How do we deal with this recurring problem? This is my suggestion to lawmakers. Enact laws to compel the witnesses to testify.
This should target those who had recorded statements and sworn affidavits.
As I conclude, allow me to say this. President Ruto’s decision to file his returns in person was a move in right direction. This demonstrated his commitment to lead by example.
I urge Kenyans to emulate him as he has assured us that he will protect our taxes and ensure are spent prudently to rebuild our economy.
Joseph Mutua Ndonga is a writer and political analyst based in Nairobi
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