Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua now says the salary delays facing the government have been occasioned by a borrowing spree done by the past regime of former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Gachagua who was speaking for the first time over the matter said revenue collected in the past few days was only enough to foot debt obligations.
He said the government is looking forward to collecting more revenue in the near future to cater for salaries.
The DP faulted the Handshake regime for the mess saying they have been forced to shoulder the burden occasioned by them
“It is true we are having challenges in paying salaries, giving money to governors. Because the handshake gov’t ripped this country, they borrowed money left right and centre. Because we are a responsible government, we have to pay this money,” he said.
“What we collected the last two weeks was sufficient to pay the loans. What we are collecting this week will pay salaries and other requirements.”
He spoke during a church service in Mathira Constituency on Sunday.
Gachagua went on to say that the government is in a difficult situation owing to the ballooning debts whose servicing has matured.
He said as a responsible administration, they have no option but to work hard in ensuring the debts are sorted.
“We are in a difficult situation, we are not the ones who borrowed the money but have to pay because it is owed by Kenya. William Ruto cannot run away from those debts even though he did not incur them,” Gachagua told congregants in his hometown.
Azimio, however, believes cash flow problems have been caused by corruption, tribalism, nepotism, incompetence, and plain theft at critical revenue collection points.
National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi on Friday called for a probe into Kenya Revenue Authority following delays in salary payments.
He said the probe should be extended to individuals and systems at the National Treasury and Central Bank of Kenya with a view to establishing what has gone wrong.
He raised concerns about why revenues are being collected but there are no monies to sort salaries.
“We need to take a close and thorough look at the goings-on at revenue collection points and revenue sources like Kenya Airports Authority, the courts, customs, National Social Security Fund (NSSF), aids and grants and revenue administration in addition to probing government spending,” he stated.
“Where the proceeds from taxes and savings from scrapped subsidies are going? How can it be that we scrapped subsidies, increased taxes, and continued to borrow, only for our financial situation to get worse?”
Opiyo stated that for the first time since independence in 1963, the government of Kenya is unable to pay salaries to civil servants and Members of Parliament.
“The easy conclusion is that the criminals at KRA are collecting and pocketing taxes as the incompetents at National Treasury also skim off the revenue while failing to come up with sound policies for cash flow,” he stated.
“Nearly all civil servants don't know when or if they will ever be paid. The situation has been degenerating progressively since December last year,” he stated.
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