SUMMARY The cost of bundles and telephone calls is likely to go up Recently telco giant Safaricom announced a new data planFollowing backlash over rising fuel prices affecting cost of living among Kenyans, President Uhuru Kenyatta has proposed an increase in tax on telephone calls, data and mobile money transfer as he seeks to fill the budget deficit. The cost of bundles and telephone calls is likely to go up with the tax on calls and data set to increase from 10 to 15 percent. ​“Telephone and internet data services shall be charged excise duty at a rate of 15 percent of their excisable value,” read the new proposal. “Excise duty on fees charged for money transfer services by banks, money transfer agencies, and other financial service providers shall be 20 percent of their excisable value,” he added. Interestingly, users will still be able to send messages via WhatsApp even after their bundles are depleted.

Source: Standard Digital September 19, 2018 13:07 UTC