President William Ruto has announced a proposal to exempt Kenyans earning Ksh32,333 per month or less from paying Pay As You Earn (PAYE) income tax.

Speaking during Mashujaa Day celebrations on Tuesday, October 20, Ruto said the government had prepared measures to ease the tax burden on low-income earners.

"We have prepared a proposal to exempt Kenyans earning Ksh32,333 per month or less to be exempted from paying pay-as-you-earn income tax," he said.

Ruto said the proposed exemption would help workers cope with the rising cost of meeting basic needs, including food, transport and education expenses.

"For workers on modest incomes, every shilling saved means more money for food, transport, school expenses, and the needs of their families," he added.

In a separate measure, the government also proposed changes to stamp duty charged on land transactions, with the aim of making property ownership more affordable for Kenyans.

Ruto said the National Treasury had developed proposals to exempt land transactions valued at Ksh1 million or less from stamp duty while introducing progressive rates for transactions involving higher-value properties.

"The National Treasury has developed proposals to exempt land transaction valued at Kenya shillings one million or less from stamp duty, and introduce progressive rates for higher value transactions," he further said.

Ruto said the proposed changes are expected to lower the cost of acquiring and transferring land, particularly for citizens with limited financial resources.

Explaining the objective of the measure, the President said the government wanted to strengthen access to property ownership among low-income Kenyans.

"This will help reduce the cost of acquiring and transferring land, especially for citizens at the bottom of the pyramid, and strengthen every Kenyan's ability to own property. Third," he noted.

 Ruto also announced plans to pursue the removal of the 25 per cent import duty on mobile phones, a move that could reduce the cost of purchasing the devices if the proposal is implemented.

He said the government would undertake the necessary legal and regional customs processes to facilitate the removal of the duty, noting that mobile phones had become essential tools for education, business, banking and employment.

"We will pursue the necessary legal and regional customs processes, so that we remove the 25% import duty on mobile phones. As we all know, a mobile phone is no longer a luxury. It is a classroom, a marketplace, a bank, and an office. 

"For many young Kenyans, a gateway to employment. Making phones more affordable will bring the opportunity of the digital economy within reach of more citizens," he said.

Elsewhere, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen joined Principal Secretaries and creatives for a short race at the Kipchoge Keino Stadium during the celebrations.

The Secretary, State Functions, Mike Gitonga, informed the presidents and the Kenyans attending the event that Murkomen would participate in a race.

The CS was joined by Treasury PS Chris Kiptoo, Youth Affairs PS Fikirini Jacobs, Citizen TV Journalist Mike Okinyi, media personality Dr Ofweneke and social media personality Arap Uria at the starting line.

Other participants included the Head of Presidential Special Projects and Creative Economy Coordination, Dennis Itumbi and former 800 metres World Junior Record holder Japheth Kimutai.

"Your Excellency, we race. We have the Cabinet Secretary, several creatives, and this being the county that gives us the champions; let us see who will win this race," Gitonga announced.

Kiptoo tripped and fell shortly after the race began. Dr Ofweneke emerged victorious, closely followed by Okinyi, Fikirini and Itumbi.