• The Treasury is contemplating introducing a 16 per cent value-added tax (VAT) on bread and milk to bolster revenue collection from middle-class households.

During the Day Break show on Citizen TV on March 14, 2024, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna expressed his concern that the government is burdening the opposition with a constant stream of contentious issues to combat.

Sifuna cited the proposed imposition of a tax on bread and milk, commonly consumed by children, as an example of how he believes the authorities are out of touch with reality.

Sifuna, a vocal opposition member, voiced his frustration, stating, "These guys seriously are overworking us. As a member of the opposition, I feel overworked because every single day, there is something to fight this government on."

He expressed his astonishment at the government's stance on the proposed tax, highlighting the disconnect between decision-makers and ordinary citizens' daily lives.

Drawing attention to the government's sentiments, Sifuna criticized the claim that the middle class primarily consumes bread and milk. He argued that the statistics indicate that the middle class is a minority in the country, whereas bread and milk are staples widely consumed by children across all social strata.

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"Everybody has children; even the people in the slums have children. And those children eat bread and milk for breakfast. When proposals are made, they quickly translate into legislation," Sifuna added.

Meanwhile, the Treasury is contemplating introducing a 16 per cent value-added tax (VAT) on bread and milk to bolster revenue collection from middle-class households.

Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung'u defended the move, stating that studies conducted by government agencies revealed that the current zero-rated VAT system failed to adequately benefit the targeted poor households, instead benefiting the relatively higher-income middle class.

Zero-rated goods are products considered necessary, such as food items, sanitary products, and animal feeds, and are exempt from VAT. Zero-rating these items makes them more affordable for lower-income consumers.

Reacting to the ongoing policy battles, Senator Sifuna emphasized the mounting pushback against the government's policies, which he believes should not be a daily occurrence. He called for the country to engage in constructive discussions on progressive matters rather than constant opposition.