President William Ruto on Sunday, November 20, set a new revenue target for the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) as he rolls out plans to get Kenya out of the debt hole.
Speaking at Faith Evangelistic Ministries in Lang’ata, Nairobi County, President Ruto indicated that Kenya was performing well below its peers in the middle income category and called on the taxman to up its efforts in revenue collection.
“Countries like ours in the middle income category raise between 20 and 25 per cent of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in terms of revenue, but for us we are at 14 per cent,” the President indicated.
President Ruto argued that there is need to raise the percentage of revenue collection that Kenya achieves annually from 14 per cent to 25 per cent.
While setting the new KRA target, Ruto called for the clergy to pray for the country so that the country raises Ksh4 trillion in revenue every year.
“We are currently collecting only Ksh2.1 trillion. I want you to pray for our nation so that we can move our revenue from 14 per cent to 25 per cent because that is where countries like ours are,” the president appealed to the congregants a mid applause.
The President took cue from the preaching of the day on taxes to indicate that he had already talked to KRA and agreed on the new targets for the taxman.
According to head of state, raising the revenue collection would help the country overcome the debt burden and safeguard its future.
The Sunday service at the Faith Evangelistic Ministries was also attended by First Lady Rachel Ruto and Second Lady Pastor Dorcas Rigathi.
Also in attendance was the Senate Speaker Amason Kingi and the Chief Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi among other top government officials.
Deputy President Regathi Gachagua attended the Sunday Service at the Karatina Catholic Church in Nyeri County.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE