President Williams Ruto of Kenya has ordered for a review of a proposed 15% tax on digital content creators enacted by his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta which was captured in the Finance Bill for 2023.

The controversial proposal which raised a lot of dissent in the country, would see local content creators, including bloggers, YouTubers, and social media influencers, paying a 15% tax, with many saying it will amount to double taxation.

The proposal was approved in 2021 by then President Kenyatta who gave the green light to the Value Added Tax (Digital Marketplace Supply) Regulations, 2020 draft.

The bill defined digital marketplace supply as any supply of a service made over a platform that enables the direct interaction between buyers and sellers of services through electronic means.

According to the proposed Finance Bill, “the scope of digital content monetization has now been expanded to include payment gained from advertisements on websites, social media platforms, and other outlets, brand sponsorships, and affiliate marketing.

“Others include subscription services where the audience pays a regular fee to view the content, crowdfunding for a creator and membership programs.

“A person who is required to deduct the digital asset tax shall, within twenty-four hours after making the deduction, remit the amount so deducted to the Commissioner together with a return of the amount of the payment, the amount of tax deducted, and such other information as the Commissioner may require.”

But while speaking during the National Drama Festival at the State House in Nairobi on Friday, Ruto ordered Parliamentary Finance and ICT Committees to rethink the clause on taxing content creators.

“I know there is a proposal in this year’s budget on digital content, and creators are making a statement,” President Ruto said.

“I have told the ICT and Finance committee to work on it. Let’s them give a bit more space,” he added.

Global payment platform, Mastercard has entered into a partnership with the Ghana Cyber Security Authority (CSA) in a bid to fight cyber fraud in the West African country.

The partnership which was sealed with the first-ever Fraud and Cyber Security Forum in Ghana, held during the week, and brought together key players in the Ghanaian tech ecosystem, including financial institutions, regulators and fintech, who examined the latest fraud trends and address crucial aspects of cybersecurity in Ghana.

The forum covered the latest attack methods utilized by cyber criminals, the assets they target, and the motivation behind such attacks, with a specific focus on the financial services sector.

Mastercard Country Director for Ghana, Bossman Kwapong, in his keynote address, said with the increased adoption of digital services, new payment flows, and connected supply chains, cyber risk was one of the top risks faced by organizations.

“It is essential that this risk is well understood and managed by organizations to protect themselves and their customers,” he said.

“The threat of cybercrime is also growing, with identity theft, ransomware, and phishing attacks becoming more common.

“Mastercard recognizes the seriousness of these threats and places a high priority on fraud prevention and cybersecurity in all the countries where it operates, including Ghana.

“We must help businesses prepare for cyber-attacks and decrease financial risk by identifying data breaches, assessing cyber threats, and acting on insights.

“As the digital economy grows, so do the intentions of cyber criminals who are ready to exploit weak links. Our partnership with the Cyber Security Authority of Ghana, is a significant step towards ensuring the safety and security of our partners and customers,” Kwapong said.