Gospel musician and activist Reuben Kigame has torn into President William Ruto’s latest tax relief proposals, branding them a "cosmetic smokescreen" designed to blind Kenyans while the state machinery ruthlessly tightens the noose around dissenting voices.

Speaking from his base in Eldoret, the renowned "Huniachi" crooner did not mince his words, painting a picture of a regime that gives with one hand while bludgeoning with the other. Kigame, a 2027 presidential hopeful who has become a thorn in the side of the Kenya Kwanza administration, dismissed the publicized tax cuts for low-income earners as a populist gimmick that fails to address the systemic pillaging of public resources. "They tell you they are reducing taxes, yet they are weaponizing the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to hunt down anyone who dares to ask where our money is going," Kigame charged.

Weaponization of the KRA

Kigame revealed that he has been the target of what he terms "politically motivated harassment" by the taxman. He detailed a series of aggressive demands and audits from the KRA, which he claims are not about compliance but about silencing his activism. "It is a pattern of harassment," he stated. "They claim I have not been filing my taxes appropriately, yet the government uses my music in public parades, on national holidays, and in state functions without paying a single shilling in royalties."

The activist argued that the administration is using tax compliance as a tool of coercion, a tactic reminiscent of the dark days of the single-party era. He challenged the President to order a lifestyle audit of his inner circle before terrorizing struggling artists and citizens. "If you wake up and hear that a leader has donated millions in a Harambee, you must ask: whose money is that? Is it our taxes? If so, who gave them the mandate to distribute it like personal largesse?" Kigame posed, questioning the source of the sudden wealth flaunted by government officials.

The "Hustler" Betrayal

Kigame’s critique cuts to the heart of the "Hustler" narrative that propelled President Ruto to power. He argues that the administration has betrayed the very people it swore to protect. According to Kigame, the proposed tax adjustments are negligible compared to the skyrocketing cost of living and the burden of statutory deductions that leave the average Kenyan worker with "peanuts" at the end of the month.

• Royalty Row: Kigame highlighted the irony of the state pursuing him for taxes while the Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) and other bodies—often under government regulation—fail to remit royalties to artists.
• Political Vendetta: He links his current tribulations to his 2022 presidential bid, where he was controversially blocked from the ballot, suggesting the establishment fears his uncompromised moral standing.
• Civil Disobedience: The musician hinted at mobilizing Kenyans for civil disobedience if the "punitive" economic policies and targeted harassment continue unabated.

A Call for Moral Leadership

The musician-turned-politician emphasized that Kenya’s problem is not a lack of resources but a "crisis of values." He accused the current crop of leaders of lacking the moral authority to demand tax compliance when they are embroiled in corruption scandals. "We do not lack policies; we lack the will to fight corruption. You cannot devolve pillaging to the counties and expect the nation to thrive," he asserted.

As the 2027 political drums begin to beat, Kigame’s outburst signals a coalescing of alternative opposition forces outside the traditional Raila-Ruto binary. His message resonates with a growing demographic of disillusioned youth and professionals who feel squeezed by an overzealous tax regime and let down by broken promises. "The government must know that we are not fools. We see the theft, we feel the pain, and we will not be silenced by tax demands," Kigame concluded, setting the stage for a bruising ideological battle ahead.