Swimming Tax?: Kenyans Question Ruto's Gov't Move to Introduce Tax on School Education Services

 

In its Medium-Term Revenue Strategy (MTRS) for the Fiscal Years 2024/25 to 2026/27, the National Treasury proposed plans to enhance uniformity in school tax exemptions. Swimming charges in Kenyan schools Treasury Cabinet Secretary (CS) Njuguna Ndung'u argued that services offered by some schools, like swimming pools, do not directly relate to education. "The government plans to introduce VAT on services provided by schools but are not directly related to education,” said Ndung'u. The CS noted that the new tax will promote equity and fairness since some schools get additional benefits from the services to the advantage of others. Kenyans say swimming is part of CBC The move sparked debate among Kenyans, asking why President William Ruto's administration wants to tax everything. They argued that swimming is part of the competency-based curriculum (CBC), dismissing the Treasury's claims that it does not relate to education. @TonyAlexIrungu said; "Such activities might not be directly related to education, but they provide life and social skills to the learners. We cannot tax our way out of bad governance. Let the government be accountable for the taxes it collects by delivering quality services first."  @OMakonjio noted; "Haha! But there's a whole curriculum on it in-line with CBC!!??" @NancieMumbo wrote; "Incoming, swimming tax" @OnimboMichael said; "I wonder if the government will also tax school dances. After all, they're not directly related to education either." @jn_shine asked; "Swimming tax?" New tax proposals There has been a raft of new tax proposals in the country, including the Unemployment Insurance Bill 2023, sponsored by Ikolomani MP Benard Shinali. The Bill proposed that employees contribute 1% of their pay, matched by 1% by the employer to the Unemployment Insurance Fund. Unemployment Insurance Authority will administer the fund and advise the respective Cabinet Secretary (CS) on unemployment insurance policies and legislation. BY TUKO NEWS