{
  "id": 14897643,
  "title": "Ruto signs Tax Laws Amendment Bill, retains 8pc VAT on fuel for 90 Days",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/ruto-signs-tax-laws-amendment-bill-retains-8pc-vat-on-fuel-for-90-days",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-16T07:29:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "KahawaTungu",
    "slug": "kahawatungu",
    "url": "https://kahawatungu.com/ruto-signs-tax-laws-amendment-bill-retains-8pc-vat-on-fuel-for-90-days/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "President William Ruto signed the Tax Laws Amendment Bill, 2026, on October 16, keeping an eight percent Value Added Tax (VAT) on petroleum products for 90 days. This measure aims to protect Kenyans from the economic impact of the crisis in the Middle East. The law retains the reduced VAT rate on petroleum products, which was previously 16 percent, down from the standard rate. National Assembly Clerk Samuel Njoroge stated that the reduced rate would stay in force for 90 days, with the possibility of an additional 90-day extension if the Middle East situation does not improve. The aim is to safeguard the Kenyan economy from external shocks that could escalate fuel prices, raise transportation costs, and increase the cost of goods and services. Additionally, the legislation modifies the taxation of imported tiles and ceramic products, reducing the tax rate for tiles from a weight-based to a square metre-based system, and decreasing ceramic tax from Sh50 to Sh30 per kilogram.",
  "summary": "President William Ruto signed the Tax Laws Amendment Bill, 2026, into law, retaining the reduced eight per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on petroleum products for 90 days to cushion Kenyans against the economic effects of the crisis in the Middle East. Ruto signed the Bill on Friday, October 16, at the Eldoret State Lodge, [...] The post Ruto signs Tax Laws Amendment Bill, retains 8pc VAT on fuel…",
  "key_points": [
    "President William Ruto signed Tax Laws Amendment Bill on October 16",
    "Eight percent VAT on fuel retained for 90 days",
    "Reduced VAT rate on petroleum products stays in force temporarily"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "People Daily Kenya",
        "title": "Ruto signs 2 tax bills into laws, extends 8% fuel VAT relief",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/ruto-signs-2-tax-bills-into-laws-extends-8-fuel-vat-relief",
        "published": "2026-10-16T06:06:18.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}