COTU secretary general Francis Atwoli has called out on president Uhuru Kenyatta to explain why his government is determined to increase the cost of fuel at this time when Kenyans are suffering.
According to Atwoli, the workers were already going through economic hardships and it was not necessary to keep hiking the cost of fuel. As a result, the COTU boss told the Jubilee government to prepare for one of the biggest unrest in the whole country.
By unrest, the COTU sec gen meant that president Uhuru Kenyatta will see aggrieved citizens go to the streets to protest the sharp increase.
“We would like Uhuru to comment and make a statement on this unfair perpetual increase in fuel prices. Unless their policies place Kenyan workers at the centre then they should prepare for unrest from all quarters,” he said.
Atwoli also urged the country to be innovative on how it raises taxes instead of the perpetual hike in fuel every now and then.
“At the same time, we would like to remind Uhuru that Kenyan workers are suffering and that he should not tolerate the impunity, punishment and the affront towards Kenyan workers by bodies such as EPRA,” he added.
Atwoli’s sentiments came in the wake of the sharp rise in fuel prices announced on Tuesday which is the highest in Kenyan history since Independence.
The rise is as a result of increased taxes on all the three products notably VAT, which has gone up to 9.98 per cent on petrol from eight per cent.
“The prices are inclusive of the eight per cent Value Added Tax in line with the Finance Act 2018, the Tax Act 2018, the Tax Laws(Amendment) Act 2020 and the revised rates for excise duty adjustment for inflation,” EPRA director general Daniel Kiptoo said.
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