President Uhuru extends duty waiver to Kenyans living in countries with left-hand cars

Kenyans living in US at a meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta in New York (PHOTO:PSCU)

Kenyans living in countries where vehicles are left-hand driven will from November be able to enjoy a duty waiver that has been benefiting those living in nations with right-hand vehicles, President Uhuru Kenyatta has said.

The President announced this when he met Kenyans living in the US state of New York at a reception on Thursday night.

President Kenyatta had in August made a pledge that Government will facilitate the arrangement but it was delayed because such arrangements concerning importations of vehicles have to be done in consultation with the East African Community.

President Kenyatta said the consultations with the EAC will be held in January next year but a temporary arrangement has been made which is set to begin in November.

Under the program, those who live in countries like the United States where vehicles are left-hand will be allowed to import a right-hand vehicle of similar value duty free.

The President said the Government will not allow those who try to cheat under the program.

“Don’t try to import a range rover when you have been driving a Toyota where you live because that would be cheating Kenyans of tax,” the President said.

He said a communication on the procedures to be followed has been released to Kenyan Embassies and Missions.

The President also called on Kenyans in the diaspora to be vanguards to channel investments into Kenya.

He called on those who live in the United States to use their networks to encourage more Americans to invest in Kenya’s growing economy.

“Help us to channel US investments to Kenya because we will prefer American investments driven by the Kenyan diaspora” he said.

The President said the Government was creating an enabling environment for investors and wants to target the diaspora to have a bigger stake in the Kenyan economy.

He said the Government was working hard to strengthen institutions to promote the economy and service delivery to Kenyans.

“Our people will no longer depend on individuals but on institutions that last. It should never be about who you know but the skills you know,” the President said.

President Kenyatta at the same time asked Kenyans in the diaspora to stop spreading hate messages through social media.

The President said Kenyans in the diaspora were more involved in spreading hate messages and called on them to instead promote unity.

“Why should some of you who live in a country like the United States that accepts all people be the ones spreading ethnic competitions,” he said.

Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Ambassador Amina Mohamed said the Government was working closely with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to make arrangements that will allow the Kenyan diaspora to exercise voting rights in the next elections.

She also said that the Foreign Affairs Ministry will in three weeks time launch and online portal to serve Kenyans living in different parts of the country.