Kenyans might have to pay more for diapers and sanitary towels after the government plans to resuscitate its initial plan to convert them from zero-rated to exempt status under the Eco Levy.
The Eco Levy, a proposal under the Miscellaneous Fees and Levies Act that previously aimed at charging manufacturers and importers whose goods affected the environment.
According to the Cabinet secretary by then, the move to give the exempt status aimed to reduce the government’s tax expenditure of the government’s estimated revenue forgone after giving tax concessions or preferences to a particular class of taxpayer or activity.
However, President William Ruto halted this move after Kenyans protested against the Finance Bill 2024.
The Bill had proposed only the exported goods and services would be zero-rated.
Following President Ruto’s move to withdraw the Finance Bill in July, new proposals have been cropping up, a move that Kenyans view as the re-introduction of the Bill.
