Kenyan Newspapers Review: Fuel Prices To Rise Sharply As William Ruto Pushes For Carbon Tax

On Monday, December 4, the national dailies widely reported on the new carbon tax proposal fronted by President William Ruto at the COP28 summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The papers also reported on ODM leader Raila Odinga's claim that President Ruto was undermining governors.

1. Daily Nation

The publication reported that the cost of fossil fuels and travel could rise should an ambitious new carbon tax proposal fronted by President William Ruto at the COP28 summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, sail through.

Ruto's proposal seeks to compel fossil fuel companies and industries that emit greenhouse gases to pay for the damage that their operations cause to the planet.

In his speech at the COP28 summit, Ruto said that the time has come now to have the "difficult" conversation about paying for polluting.

“It was a difficult conversation before, but I think everyone now realises we need new sources of revenue to backstop climate financing, and it has to be new channels of resources, where everybody contributes, not the traditional contributors,” Ruto said.

The new tax would also be imposed on fossil fuel companies, which could, in turn, load the cost on consumers and hence raise the cost of fuel.

2. Standard

The paper reported on claims by ODM leader Raila Odinga that President William Ruto's government was using the national administration structures to undermine devolution.

The former prime minister said the Kenya Kwanza administration intends to give excessive powers to officials under the Ministry of Interior at the expense of empowering counties.

According to the ODM leader, there are efforts to suppress democracy at the grassroots through the use of 'provincial administrations'.

Raila said one indicator that Ruto was unwilling to support devolution as per the Constitution was the way he was reluctant to give counties money for the devolved functions.

"The current Constitution does not have provisions for provincial administration. It is an attempt to undermine the authority of elected people in counties by supplanting his unconstitutional offices like the regional commissioners, county commissioners, and other lower cadre officers," Raila said.

3. The Star

The publication highlighted the plight of a 15-year-old who was admitted to a hospital after being tortured for three days by fellow teens.

The victim, whose body was spattered with blood, was rushed to Naivasha Hospital after his mother, who lived nearby, stumbled onto her son.

The minor narrated how, for three days, the two suspects, who are known to him, beat him to a pulp, saying they were toughening him up for life as an adult.

He disclosed that he was forced to swallow his vomit while the two bullies struck him with a hot wire and, at times, punched him until he fainted.

“I could no longer take the pain, and I rushed out screaming, and when my mother saw me, she called the police, who came to my rescue,” he said.

4. Taifa Leo

The Swahili publication reported on a warning by the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) against party members opposing government positions.

On Saturday, December 1, UDA secretary general Cleophas Malala said the ruling party would take disciplinary action against rebel members.

According to Malala, the party has taken a decision to ensure members holding key positions abide by the government's decisions on key members.

Malala said the party will not entertain members out to undermine the plans of President William Ruto's government.

"Our party leader has been working hard to salvage this country from the dungeons of economic depression, but we have members who do not understand this. They have been going in public to oppose government positions and programmes. We are going to institute an internal mechanism to deal with such members," Malala said.