Leaders of the opposition coalition party, Azimio have claimed that President William Ruto’s government is tainted with state capture and corruption.

Speaking during the Azimio Parliamentary Group meeting in Nairobi on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, the opposition leaders noted that they are dealing with a government that has been captured by people from within the Kenya Kwanza administration.

“State capture and corruption are at the centre of the problems we are grappling with as a people; from high taxes, to low investments to provision of basic services like distribution of fertilizers,” read part of Azimio statement.

In addition, the Azimio legislators raised concern over the Export and Investment promotion Levy introduced in the Finance Act of 2023, claiming that it was discouraging potential investors from investing in the country.

“As we warned, together with the Kenya Association of Manufacturers, this levy is killing manufacturing in the country by giving preferential treatment to specific businesses whose owners have captured the apparatus of the State and are using it for personal gain, in complete disregard for public good,” read part of Azimio statement.

The leaders further claimed that the levy on imported goods like steel and clinker was creating monopolies in steel and cement manufacturing at the expense of the public. 

“Rather than boost local production, the levy is killing the same. It is killing jobs and making products like steel and cement extremely expensive,” noted Azimio leaders.

In addition, the opposition legislators alleged that the distribution of fake fertilisers to farmers in the country was as a result of corruption and state capture. 

“The mindset that gave birth to this levy is similar to the one that saw the government distribute fake fertilizers to our own farmers. These are manifestations of state capture and corruption at their worst,” they noted.

At the same time, the opposition leaders alleged that the government was part of the problem that is making foreign firms lose out on business and contracts in Kenya because top government officials are involved in corruption in the form of bribery and kickbacks.

“It is becoming very clear that only firms willing to pay bribes and those with political godfathers high up in government will remain and thrive in Kenya while others close shop or relocate to neighbouring countries,” Azimio noted in a statement.

However, the Azimio leaders called on the government to repeal and abolish the Export and Investment promotion Levy, and also crackdown on corruption within its ranks.