President William Ruto has slammed his critics who refer to him as Zakayo (zacchaeus) the tax collector from in the bible.

This comes at the back of the many taxes that the Ruto administration has since implemented in a bid to raise income for the government.

Speaking on Wednesday January 17, during the Inspection of Masinde Muliro Market in Kitale, Ruto said he will do all he can to create employment through the Affordable Housing Scheme.

The President said he has no problem being referred to as Zakayo adding that it is better than letting the country sink into debt.

“I said we pay the Housing Levy but people said that I’m becoming the Biblical Zaccheus ‘Zakayo’. It is better to be Zakayo and the youths get employment. It is better to be ‘Zakayo’ than let Kenya sink into debt),” he said.

Since 2023 the government has hiked charges for some of its services, introduced new levies in the Finance Act 2023 as well as reviewing some statutory deductions for employees with the recent being the new NSSF deductions which are set to increase in February 2024.

President Ruto had stated that Kenya’s big problem is debt which he and his deputy have vocally blamed the previous administration for the mess.

Ruto indicated that for every 10 shillings the country collects as revenue 7 goes into servicing of public debts.