More funds will be directed to institutions charged with fighting corruption, if President Uhuru Kenyatta’s proposal is backed. During his address to the nation concerning the Finance Bill 2018/2019 which he rejected and is set to be discussed during special sittings of the National Assembly, President Kenyatta said the taxes paid by Kenyans will be used well, “That is why, in my memorandum, I propose to increase the resources available to the institutions entrusted to fight corruption,” he said.
He revealed that in the funding has been increased to different bodies like the judiciary and DCI, “Specifically I have increased funding to the judiciary to speed up the completion of cases concerning corruption and economic crime. Further I have increased the allocation to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, and to investigative agencies,” he said. He added that it’s his expectation that these bodies will work together to restore the faith in public institutions.
In his address, he highlighted the major thorn in the system, the issue of fuel VAT, proposing its reduction from 16% to 8%. Some Kenyans had voiced their displeasure with the high taxation, and the increasing nation’s foreign debt, saying corruption was the bug that blocked effective usage of revenue collected and debt money received. His affirmation also keeps in line with his agenda to tackle graft in the country, which hampers any tangible development.