NAIROBI– Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has on Wednesday welcomed the move by President William Ruto’s government of exempting taxes from dates ahead of the holy month of Ramadhan.

This is after the government announced exemption of the Muslim community from paying taxes on dates imported for the holy month of Ramadhan.

President Ruto gives Muslim Community 1 Month tax-Free on importation of dates for #Ramadhan.https://t.co/1hJGfCDUef pic.twitter.com/O3qa36VJ2e

— Frontier Online (@FrontierOnlineK) January 31, 2024

In a statement posted on his official social media pages, CS Duale expressed his gratitude towards President Ruto for his gracious gesture during this year’s expected holy month of Ramadhan.

“We sincerely appreciate H.E President William Ruto for expressing the Government’s support and solidarity with the Muslim Community of Kenya through importation of duty free dates during this year’s Holy month of Ramadan, expected to run between 10th March to 9th April.” Said CS Duale.

We sincerely appreciate H.E President @WilliamsRuto for expressing the Government's support and solidarity with the Muslim Community of Kenya through importation of duty free dates during this year's Holy month of Ramadan, expected to run between 10th March to 9th April.

This… pic.twitter.com/qtljEVwZxV

— Hon. Aden Duale, EGH (@HonAdenDuale) January 31, 2024

The announcement which is a second one in a row following last year’s exemption comes against the backdrop of a request from the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), underscoring the government’s commitment to supporting religious practices and cultural diversity.

SUPKEM in a letter to the Ministry of Treasury requested the importation of duty-free dates from March 10 to April 9, 2024, citing several requests from donors abroad who offered to donate dates to Muslims in Kenya.

Muslims are expected to start observing the holy month of Ramadan in the evening on Sunday, March 10, 2024 and end on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.