Former Prime minister Raila has termed president William Ruto’s foreign trips as a waste of time and misuse of public resources.
Ruto has been to over 40 different foreign trips since assuming the country’s highest office in September last year.
The head of state as well as his allies have been defending the trips saying that they are intended for the benefit of the country through growth by sourcing for investors, securing foreign jobs for Kenyan youths among other goodies.
Raila however maintains that the environment in the country is currently unfriendly to businesses because of heavy taxation, and that is why investors are opting for neighboring countries like Tanzania and Uganda.
“We have created a very unfriendly environment for business in the country. Those who are already in the country are suffering because of high taxation. For example, recently, introduced turnover tax, 3%, I don’t know where else this is done. Most of the business, tax are based on profits that’s what we say gross turnover and net turnover, and that is what you tax.
“If you are going to be taxing turn over, what is the investor going to have? Because your are not just in business to pay tax. You are in business to make money so that you can be able to pay dividends to your shareholders but if the government wants to take everything from you, where is the incentive? Why do you have to do business. People will be looking at tax friendly destinations,” he said.
Raila further noted that Ruto’s foreign trips will therefore not bring any positive impact on foreign investments in the country.
“You are saying that you are travelling around the world to attract investors. No investor will come when those who are already here are feeling uncomfortable. Before any investor comes to bring their capital here they ask those who are already here how is the environment and if the answer is negative, they will not come here.
“You can make many trips to the US, you can go to Silicon Valley to talk to people there they will ask General Motors, Cocacola, American companies which are here first, how is the environment before they come. It is a waste of time, public funds global trotting hoping you will bring investment here,” the ODM leader said.
