Edible Oil Manufacturers Chairman Hayel Saeed told Members of Parliament that the proposed taxes will increase the cost of living for Kenyans by increasing prices for basic commodities which include cooking oil, soap, bread and baked commodities.
The proposed excise duty will raise the prices of cooking oil from Sh 202 per litre to Sh 337 per litre while cooking fat will increase from Sh 107 to Sh 162 which will negatively impact low- and middle-income households. "The bad news about this will apply on our local grown sunflower oil so even us will stop focusing on buying local and focus on exporting the sunflower oil. Why are we destroying our local manufacturing?" he posed.
They have opposed the implementation of the 2 percent levy on the Nut and Oil Crops Directive saying it will have a net saving of Sh 50 on the 20 litres oil jerrican. Kapa Oil Chief Executive Officer Nitin Shah lamented that following the erratic increase of taxes every financial year it has made the market unfavorable for investors.