Rotich fails in Budget to make life easier

NAIROBI: Another year goes by without any change to the personal tax brackets and allowances. This was perhaps the biggest disappointment in the budget speech this year. We are now going into our eleventh year without a change in personal tax and given inflation during that period and the increased cost of living, hard pressed Kenyans will probably be worse off.

A great opportunity to make life easier for the populace was thrown away. The long awaited new Income Tax Act is scheduled to be released at the end of September and one hopes at that point the public will be given the opportunity to comment on it. It is important that stakeholder input is sought so we don’t end up with a new Act that will be repeatedly amended!