Governor Natembeya Criticizes Ruto’s PAYE Tax Proposal, Terms It Political Strategy
Trans-Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has strongly criticized President William Ruto’s proposal to remove Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) tax for Kenyans earning below Ksh30,000 per month, describing the move as a political tactic rather than a genuine economic intervention meant to help ordinary citizens.
Speaking on Saturday in Trans-Nzoia County, the governor argued that the Kenya Kwanza administration was attempting to present itself as solving a problem it had originally created through previous tax increases.
According to Natembeya, the government is now positioning the proposed tax relief as a favour to citizens at a time when political campaigns are gradually beginning to take shape ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The governor questioned why many young Kenyans, particularly Gen Z protesters, had to lose their lives during demonstrations against high taxes and the rising cost of living, only for the government to later announce that it can afford to ease the tax burden.
He suggested that the move raises serious questions about the government’s earlier justification for increased taxation.
Natembeya made the remarks while commissioning a new maternal and children’s hospital in the Tuwani area. The facility is expected to significantly improve access to healthcare services for women and children who previously had to travel long distances in search of treatment.
He said development projects such as health facilities should remain focused on improving people’s lives rather than being used for political messaging.
According to the governor, the tax relief plan appears to be part of a broader political strategy aimed at winning public support rather than addressing the long-term financial challenges faced by low-income earners.
He claimed that the timing of the announcement suggests it is designed to influence voters instead of providing sustainable economic solutions.
“This tax relief plan is nothing more than a vote-buying scheme designed to win elections, not to genuinely help struggling Kenyans,” Natembeya said during his address.
The governor also made it clear that he does not intend to align himself politically with President Ruto in order to secure development projects for Trans-Nzoia County. He emphasized that development should not depend on political loyalty or personal closeness to national leadership.
“It is not a must for one to kneel before the President at State House for development to come to this county.
That is not something I am willing to do,” he stated, adding that his administration would continue pursuing development independently while focusing on service delivery to residents.
President Ruto, together with Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, announced in February that the government intends to exempt all workers earning Ksh30,000 and below from PAYE tax.
The proposal seeks to raise the tax-free income threshold from the current Ksh24,000 to Ksh30,000, a move expected to remove about 1.5 million low-income earners from the tax bracket across the country.
The government has indicated that the proposed changes will be introduced in Parliament through the Tax Laws Amendment Bill once lawmakers resume from recess.
The adjustments are expected to form part of broader fiscal changes as the national budget-making process continues.
Under the proposal, workers earning between Ksh30,000 and Ksh50,000 will also benefit from reduced PAYE rates, with the current rate of 30 percent expected to drop to 25 percent.
Government estimates suggest that around two million formal-sector workers will benefit from the changes, including approximately 1.5 million who will no longer pay PAYE and about 500,000 who will enjoy reduced tax rates.
For employees earning Ksh30,000 per month, the exemption is projected to save roughly Ksh731 monthly, money that was previously deducted as PAYE before other statutory deductions were applied.
Those earning around Ksh50,000 could save between Ksh2,500 and Ksh3,200 every month, although the exact amount will vary depending on deductions such as NSSF contributions, the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), and the Housing Levy.
President Ruto has defended the proposal, saying the government is now in a position to lower taxes after stabilizing the economy. He explained that the intention is to ease the cost of living by supporting low-income earners and strengthening economic growth from the lower income levels upward.
During his visit to the county, Governor Natembeya also presided over the opening of roads connecting Matisi, Kitale Town, and Tuwani, projects expected to improve transport and business activities in the region.
He further inspected ongoing works at the Kenyatta International Stadium in Kitale, noting that improved infrastructure remains a key priority for his administration.
The governor concluded by reaffirming his commitment to improving healthcare services and infrastructure across Trans-Nzoia County, saying the newly launched hospital will play an important role in expanding maternal and child healthcare services while reducing the burden on families seeking medical care.
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