Kenya asks public for help with economic fix laws after protests

Duncan Miriri - Reuters - 09/09
Kenya's finance ministry will seek suggestions from the public on new legislation to boost revenue and tackle other challenges, Finance Minister John Mbadi said on Monday, after protesters forced the government to withdraw its financing law.
  • Government seeks public help to raise revenues
  • Debt restructuring ruled out despite high repayments
  • Taxes to be cut when situation improves
NAIROBI, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Kenya's finance ministry will seek suggestions from the public on new legislation to boost revenue and tackle other challenges, Finance Minister John Mbadi said on Monday, after protesters forced the government to withdraw its financing law.
President William Ruto discarded tax hikes worth more than 346 billion shillings ($2.7 bln) in June after protests that killed more than 50 people.
The move left the heavily indebted government with a bigger budget deficit for this financial year, mounting pending bills, and a delay in funding from the International Monetary Fund.
"We are barely managing. This is not where we wanted to be, but we are here," Mbadi told a budget preparation meeting. He was appointed from the opposition last month as Ruto sought to stabilise his...
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