Wednesday March 25, 2020
NAIROBI (HOL) - Kenya has announced salary cuts in government, tax relief and dawn to dusk curfew in new measures to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus and cushion Kenyans from economic slump as the country registers the 28 th case of the COVID-19 disease.
Addressing the nation Wednesday, President Uhuru Kenyatta said his government was putting in
further measures to limit movements within the country and also cushion Kenyans from the economic effects of the COVID-19 spread.
“Effective Friday, 27th March, 2020; a Daily Curfew from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. shall be in effect in
the territory of the Republic of Kenya, with all movement by persons not authorized to do so or not being Medical Professionals, Health Workers, Critical and Essential Services Providers, being prohibited between those hours,” President Kenyatta said.
The President also announced salary cuts among senior government officials with himself and Deputy President William Ruto taking an 80% salary cut.
Cabinet Secretaries and Chief Administrative Secretaries will see their monthly salaries slashed by 30% while Principal Secretaries will have to forfeit 20% of the monthly earnings.
Additionally, the President also announced tax cuts with persons earning up to $240 fully exempted from paying income taxes while the elderly, orphans and other vulnerable persons will be appropriated additional $100 million.
The announcements came a day the East African nation recorded three more cases of COVID-19
and one recovery.
President Kenyatta also lowered the Cash Reserve Ratio for Commercial banks from 5.25% to
4.25% which will free up $350 million to allow banks extend loans to Kenyans. Value Added
Tax (VAT) will now climb down from 16% to 14% starting April 1.