The Finance Act, 2020 subjected clean cooking products and technologies, which were previously exempt, including the cookstoves, to Value Added Tax (VAT). Of this, Sh4.8 billion ($48 million) will go towards stand-alone solar systems and clean cooking solutions for households. The inclusion of clean cooking technologies in the list of vatable products may not have been totally unexpected. The Clean Cooking Association of Kenya (CCAK) decried the frequent policy changes, noting they do not auger well with investors. Unsafe technologiesThe organisation said taxing clean cooking equipment and fuels would see some “clean cooking converts” revert to using unsafe technologies that are deemed cheaper.

Source: Standard Digital September 29, 2020 06:00 UTC