Owalo vows to lower income tax and housing levy if elected president
By Mabonga Makhanu, January 28, 2026Former Deputy Chief of Staff Eliud Owalo has outlined a series of tax reforms he intends to implement if elected president in 2027.
Speaking during an interview with a local media station on Wednesday, January 28, 2025, Owalo focused on taxation as one of the key areas of his campaign agenda.
He revealed plans to reduce the income tax rate from the current 35 per cent to 20 per cent.
In addition, Owalo proposed lowering the value-added tax (VAT) from 16 per cent to 10 per cent. He also suggested reducing the housing levy from 2.5 per cent to 0.5 per cent.
Owalo emphasised his intention to abolish the digital tax, particularly as it applies to digital appliances, and the one that is normally charged on the proceeds of creatives in the country.
Since he wants to transform the country into a digital hub
“The first thematic area I am addressing is taxation. I want to bring down the income tax from 35 per cent to 20 per cent, VAT from 16 to 10 per cent, and lower the housing levy from 2.5 to 0.5 per cent, and completely do away with digital tax, especially on digital appliances, with a real focus on turning Kenya into a real digital economy,” he said.
Economic liberation
During the sitdown, he stated that the reason why he aspires to vie for the top seat is that he wants to lead the nation in its third liberation, which to him is the economic liberation
He also termed himself an agent of change who is adamant about transforming society by solving the economic issues that have long bedevilled the country.
“As an agent of change, I wish to run for the presidency so that I can lead Kenyans in the third and final liberation, which is the economic liberation,” he said.
Kenyan atrocities
Eliud Owalo, who recently resigned from his role, stated that during his tenure as a government official—serving since 2022, first as the Cabinet Secretary for ICT and later as Deputy Chief of Staff—he has been conducting countrywide tours engaging Kenyans at the grassroots.
According to him, there have been complaints from the local populace who are not content and do not feel the impact of the government in their daily lives, stating that they struggle with basic necessities such as food, yet the government is launching huge projects.
He went ahead to state that these are some of the issues he wants to address when elected president.