Safina presidential hopeful Jimmy Wanjigi has promised to lower taxes for families with over 3 children if elected the next president.
Speaking at a local church in Murang’a on Sunday, April 10, the businessman-cum-politician urged Kenyans to abide by the biblical teachings on procreation as stipulated in the scripture.
While exuding confidence that he will beat presidential front runners William Ruto and Raila Odinga in this year’s presidential election, Wanjigi urged Kenyans not to worry about the tough economic conditions saying that families with six children and more will be exempted from paying taxes.
“Kwenye serikali yangu, mtu ambaye atazaa watoto watatu atapunguziwa ushuru. Ushuru huo utapunguzwa kadri atakapoongeza watoto. Wazazi watakaozaa watoto sita au zaidi hawatalipa chochote kama ushuru,”.
Loosely translated to: “In my government, a person who gives birth to three children will pay less tax. The tax will be reduced as the person adds the number of children. Parents who give birth to six or more children will not pay anything in taxes,” Wanjigi said.
It is worth noting that the billionaire businessman has only two children in a country where the majority who give birth to many children are confined to poverty or a below-average lifestyle.
It is not the first time he is calling on Kenyans to consider having more babies, contrary to the western narrative that Africa is too poor to have a huge population.
In 2018, a viral video captured the businessman making case for more children per family, arguing that numbers translate to market and that Kenya has enough resources to handle a big population.
Wanjigi’s remarks come just days after Treasury CS Ukur Yattani presented the proposed Finance Bill which has imposed a 16 percent VAT on wheat, cassava flour, and maize.
Additionally, the booming boda boda business, which has been a source of business for millions of youths, will also be jolted should lawmakers pass the Bill into law.
This according to Deputy President William Ruto will subject Kenyans to more suffering if it sails through without amendments.
Ruto who was on his vote-hunting mission in the vote-rich Mt Kenya region vowed to rally his allies to shoot down the bill in parliament.
“That budget wants to increase water bill, to increase the price of bread, to increase the price of cooking flour, to increase the buying price of motorbikes. We want to tell them that the budget will not go through Parliament,” Ruto said.
