There exists a law that exempted the family of the first President Jomo Kenyatta and that of late President Daniel Moi from paying tax on inherited land.
Section 7(3) of the Estate Duty Act exempts the family of the first President Jomo Kenyatta and that of late President Moi from paying taxes.
However, Deputy President William Ruto now says that every Kenyan must pay taxes.
Gachagua who was speaking on Thursday, February 2, in Mombasa during a meeting with senators welcomed the former Head of State for talks on how he can settle his tax arrears.
“Make arrangements, and pay it and if you have a problem with what we are asking you to pay, we are open to discussion,
“Come, and we will agree on how you can pay in bits, say KSh1 billion every month until you are done,” Gachagua said.
The former Mathira MP said that no one even the President has the power to exempt any individual from paying taxes.
“If you want to be exempted from paying taxes, buy an advert in the newspaper and apply to the people of Kenya. Let those who have not been paying tax not get jittery,” Gachagua stated.
His comments come after Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei proposed the amendment of the Estate Duty Act 2012 compelling the families of the first President Jomo Kenyatta and that of late President Daniel Moi to pay taxes.
“The constitution under Article 210 on the imposition of taxation indicates that no person or entity shall be exempted from payment of tax. The constitution provides a prescriptive exemption of taxes not to include state officers as was purported in the Estate Duty Act section 7 (3) that exempted the estates of former presidents Kenyatta and Moi,” Cherargei said.