Attorney General Justin Muturi says the government has formulated different mechanisms to expand the country’s revenue base by including more people in the tax bracket to boost tax collection.
“The ideal to raise the level of our taxes as compared to our GDP is too low given the size of our economy in the region, and it’s that we include more and more people so that we can expand the revenue base,” Muturi said.
Muturi said in the medium-term plan government has factored an additional 30 to 70 judges, who will be distributed in different courts, adding they will be recruiting an additional 11 judges for the Court of Appeal next week. He reiterated that it is important that disputes that end up in court are resolved expeditiously.
The Attorney General also called on the county government to work hand in hand with the national government to make sure farmers sell the minimum amount of products they produce by adding value to them, saying this will help to improve the living standards of the community.
Muturi was speaking at Kirinyaga University during the launch of a public dissemination forum for the Medium Term Plan IV development programme.
He called for partnership programs by both local and foreign investors as one way to bring development to the country and supported the expressway expected to be constructed from Nairobi to Mombasa through a public-private partnership, saying it would speed up development.
Elijah Mwangi, the Principal Secretary State Department for Mining, announced the roll out of the Medium Term Plan IV (MTP IV), set to run from July 2023 onwards. This strategic plan, which was the result of extensive county-wide engagements and validated data, was officially launched on March 12th, 2024.
PS Mwangi explained that MTP IV provides a comprehensive framework for implementing Kenya’s development agenda over the next five years.
Central to this agenda, Mwangi explained is the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Strategy, focusing on five critical areas: agriculture, medium and small enterprises (MSMEs), the digital economy, housing and settlement, and health.
These earmarked areas are structured to be executed across six sectors including finance, social protection, governance and public administration, environment, and agriculture.
“The implementation of MTP IV is expected to drive significant development within the country,” said Mwangi. “Kirinyaga, in particular, will see notable benefits, including the development of seven key roads.”
Kirinyaga County Deputy Governor David Wachira called for the alignment of MTP IV to the county’s own Integrated Development Plan (CIDP). He emphasized the anticipated positive impact of an industrial park, which aims to attract investors, add value to local agricultural produce, and create jobs.
“The collaboration between the national and county governments ensures that citizens are well-informed about the progress and specifics of the government’s plans,” Deputy Governor Wachira stated. “Our goal is to keep the public updated on the advancements and benefits that these plans will bring.”
The launch and ongoing implementation of MTP IV signify a concerted effort by both national and county governments to foster economic growth and improve the livelihoods of Kenyans through targeted developmental initiatives.
Kirinyaga County Finance Executive Jackline Njogu said Kirinyaga County was among the counties to benefit from the Export Processing Zone (EPZ), saying this will lead to the growth of the economy, thus creating more jobs in the county.
She added that the county government, in partnership with the national government, has given fifty thousand bags of fertilizer to farmers that she expressed optimism would lead to an increase in agricultural products.
By David Wandeto
