Digital Content Creators among them YouTubers, Comedian, Online Article Writers, had raised red alarm on why would they be taxed yet it’s side hustle
Eric Omondi, King of African Comedy led them in demanding government to drop the controversial bill on taxing jobless youths making money through alternative ways
Good news for content creators and YouTubers after the President William Ruto drops the proposed tax for the likes of Eric Omondi, Eve Mungai, Diana Bahati
Ruto who has remained unbowed albeit pressures from opposition, civil servants and society groups on the proposed Finance Bill 2023, seems to have untightened his belt on younger generations
The bill, targeted hundreds of unemployed youths who have found means of survival through generating content through digital space and monetizing them to earn a living
The Head of State, now has requested taxman [KRA] to give the likes of Eric Omondi enough space to do their artistical work without being taxed in the proposed 15 per cent of proceeds earned from the digital content creation
“We are working around the whole space about monetizing the digital contents creators. I know taxman is listening because whenever they see some fellows making money, they always target him or her for those bonuses.
I know there’s a proposed tax on digital content creators but have told ICT Committee and Finance committee to work on it, let’s give them some more space to create their digital contents and creators without having to pay, wacha wajipanga kidogo lakini baadaye tutalipa ushuru” Ruto ordered.
The President, spoke during the hosting of National Drama Festival Concert at State House where he implored other stakeholders to pay tax to grow the economy
“We are committed to supporting the arts and creative economy grow so that our talented youth in schools can secure their dream careers after studies. In the long-run, this will generate jobs and contribute productively to the growth of our economy,” He added
This comes after the self proclaimed African King of Comedy, Eric Omondi, held a presser with You Tubers and Digital Content Creators, asking government why would they tax unemployed kenyans who are making ends meet through their own hustle
“Million of graduates have stayed jobless for decades, now when this person is buying camera, phone, tripod, laptop etc you’ve taxed them through value added tax.
When they create digital content and monetize it to get something keep them living, you want to come in and tax, you never helped them in securing jobs and buying for the equipments but you’ve guts to tax them? Eric Omondi wondered
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Cabinet Secretaries Ezekiel Machogu, Ababu Namwamba, Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang’, Teachers Service Commission CEO Nancy Macharia, Chairman of the Kenya National Drama and Film Festival Prof Christopher Odhiambo, among other guests, were present.