Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho has expressed his concerns over the looming rise in commodity prices after the sharp increase in the cost of fuel.
The governor, in a press statement, urged the government to consider friendly interventions as cutting down on expenditures other than overburdening the citizens.
Joho maintained that introducing more taxes as the fuel levy was ill calculated as it would have a net effect of increasing the cost of goods and essentially each item for every Kenyan.
"I have noted with concern, the suffering Kenyans are being subjected to following the increase in fuel prices after Introduction of the controversial value-added tax of 16%," part of the statement read.
He further noted that even as the country gets into bothersome international and domestic financial obligations, Kenyans were still stifled by tough economic times with low incomes, unemployment and inflation.
He advised President Uhuru to reconsider the implementation of the new levies that have sent fuel prices to an all-time high leaving Kenyans grappling with tripled bus fares and other commodity prices.
"While keenly aware of our international and domestic financial obligations, I wish to urge the president to assent to the finance amendment bill that suspends the implementation of this tax," held Governor Joho.
The governor went on to state that "Treasury officials and other concerned government officials should consider other interventions, especially on the expenditures side."
He suggested that some of the public debts can be restructured or rescheduled while the state slows its expenditures on large infrastructure projects or reconsidering their implementation.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and the deputy president William Ruto have both given the public an assurance that the forceful taxes on fuel would be suspended.
