• Eric Omondi and other content creators have strongly been opposing the 15% withholding tax
• Kenyan content creators insist that the tax proposal is aimed at making creatives even more poorer
• Many Kenyan content creators have been flaunting their wealth and flashy lifestyles, a clear indication they have been raking in millions
The Kenyan government recently introduced the finance bill of 2023 which contains a raft of proposals aimed at expandind the country’s tax bracket.
One of the most controversial proposals is actually aimed at subjecting income earned through digital content monetization to a 15 percent withholding tax, something that has not settled down well with a multitude of local content creators.
Leading a group of Kenyan content creators to shun the proposal, Eric Omondi has strongly been opposing it, holding that it is aimed at making creatives even more poorer.
The content creators received massive support from economists who have also been fighting the 15% withholding tax imposed on their revenue from different online business engagemens.
Countless economists insist that if approved, the proposal will have major effects on the income earned by individual content creators and the growth of the entire digital economy.
“One of the irony in this digital service tax is holding of 15% on it and remember this is just a withholding tax. Withholding tax is not final so again the digital content creators will be expected to do their books at the end of the year to show how much they earned. In other words after you have paid 15% , you will still be expected to pay what we call a final tax”, explained economist Eric Odera.
Well, while many people have been making noise over the same, quite a number including yours truly believe Kenyan content creators and celebrities dug their own graves, knowingly or unknowingly.
Operating in the entertainment industry, most content creators caved in to the temptation of pulling publicity stunts aimed at progressing their brands.
Many would flaunt wads of notes, others their expensive rides and houses while a section, the flashy lifestyles they have been “enjoying”.
Going by their countless posts on social media, it became apparent that they have been raking in millions of shillings, subject to tax by the government.
In government eyes, the content creators have been making a lot of money and will not feel a pinch with the introduction of the 15% withholding tax.
The aforementioned was even brought closer home by Lang’ata MP Jalang’o who recently shared with Kenyans on why the government believes content creators should be taxed.
The politician claimed it was an uphill task for him and others to defend content creators since they have severally confirmed they are moneyed.
He insisted that the government will not relent with the intended move.
Jalas, however, advised content creators to come up with a counter proposal, through which they can state the percentage they feel the government should get from their revenue.
Following the heated debate that came hot on the heels of the introduction of the 15% withholding tax proposal, various content creators have been coming out to take back their flaunting sprees and statements as they insisted all they have been doing was just Publicity Stunts and that they are truly not making a lot of money as many people believe.
