By Jeff Kizzilah
Incoming Nairobi Governor hopeful Cyprian Nyamwamu Mutumishi Wa Watu has weighed in on the ongoing debate around taxation, warning that government propaganda can no longer mask the real pain facing salaried Kenyans.
Nyamwamu noted that while the Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has moved to exempt civil servants earning below Ksh 30,000 from PAYE—saving them approximately Ksh 731.26 per month—the relief is minimal compared to the broader burden imposed by other deductions.
“People earning Ksh 30,000 only pay about Ksh 731.26 in PAYE. Mbadi is saving them that amount. That’s how propaganda works,” Nyamwamu said. “I still support the move, but let us not lie to Kenyans.”
He warned of a looming “Payslip Revolution”, arguing that the government risks igniting public anger if it fails to address deductions that significantly eat into workers’ earnings—chief among them the controversial Housing Levy.
“What Mbadi must do to avert the Payslip Revolution is to completely stop the housing tax. This is the tax President Ruto and his friends are enriching themselves with,” he stated.
Nyamwamu emphasized that unlike PAYE for low-income earners, the housing levy is substantial, unavoidable, and painful, affecting households across the country regardless of income.
“This tax is big. It is hurting payslip Kenyans in every single household. I do not want to warn them too loudly,” he cautioned.
The remarks come amid growing public discontent over rising statutory deductions, with many salaried workers saying their take-home pay continues to shrink despite government claims of tax relief.
Nyamwamu called on the government to move beyond public relations tactics and deliver genuine relief to working Kenyans.
