Kenya president, top officials take pay cut, taxes reviewed

The coronavirus epidemic continues to disrupt life across the world. The disruption is all but gathering steam in affected even virus-free African countries. The rate of infection is lower on the continent as compared to Europe, Asia and parts of the Americas, where lockdowns are in place.

The impact on gatherings is an area that most African governments have moved to control. A number of business conferences were cancelled on account of the pandemic. A number of governments have also declared State of Emergencies.

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa extensively outlined the economic impact of the pandemic on the economy – mining, tourism – in his first address on Saturday. In Nigeria, the government is looking to revise the current budget.

Our main coronavirus hub is seized with major developments around the epidemic. This piece will focus on the impact on business with emphasis on a raft of incidents that have been undertaken.

• Nigeria, Egypt to shut down all airports

• Rwanda fines companies guilty of price gouging

• MTN Nigeria, Cameroon tweak mobile money charges

• African Finance Ministers meet ECA boss via technology

• Nigeria to slash budget by

• Ghana, Kenya telcos review mobile money charges

• South Africa apex bank warns against currency scam

• Nigeria reduces petrol price

• Rwanda, Ethiopia move to control prices of essentials

• Nambia economy hit

• Zimbabwe suspends international trade fair

• African airlines to lose big – IATA

Kenya pay cuts, tax reviews

Kenya’s president has announced pay cuts for himself and his deputy as well as a category of top government officials. All savings are expected to go into helping combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking on Wednesday, President Kenyatta said himself and deputy Ruto will forgo 80% of their salaries whiles Cabinet Secretaries and Chief Administrative Secretaries to take 30% pay cut each and 20% for Permanent Secretaries.

The president also confirmed that the number of cases in the country had increased by four and now stood at 28. Other details he gave during his briefing were:

• One patient has recovered from COVID-19

• National Treasury to offer 100% tax relief to persons earning less than Sh24,000; Income tax down from 30% to 25%.

• Daily curfew from 7pm to 5am effective Friday, March 27, 2020.

• All State and Public Officers with pre-existing medical conditions or aged 58 years and above to take leave or work from home.

This article was originally posted on Africa News.