Kenya under night time curfew as Kenyatta slashes his salary by 80 per cent

Nairobi. Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday announced a countywide curfew from 7pm to 5am starting Friday in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Kenyatta also announced that Kenya had recorded three more new cases bringing the numbers of confirmed Covid-19 cases to 28 becoming the second highest number after Rwanda recorded 40 cases.

In an address to the nation, the President also outlined new measures to fight the spread of the new coronavirus.

As part of the new measures President Uhuru announced the reduction of his salary and that of the Deputy President by 80 per cent.

“In sharing the burden occasioned by the present global health pandemic, over the duration of the global crisis and commencing immediately, my Administration has offered a voluntary reduction in the salaries of the senior ranks of the National Executive,” he said.

As per the new directive, Cabinet Secretaries will take a pay cut of 30 per cent, Chief Administrative Secretaries 30 per cent, whereas    Principal Secretaries will go home with less 20 per cent less of their income.

Kenya’s President also directed the treasury to undertake immediate reduction of the VAT from 16 per cent to 14 per cent, with effect from April 1.

Mr Kenyatta also announced 100 per cent tax relief for persons earning gross monthly income of up to Ksh 24,000 (Sh550,000) plus a reduction of income tax rate (Pay-As-You-Earn) from 30 per cent to 25 per cent.