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{
    "id": 1016992,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1016992/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 105,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Homa Bay CWR, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Ms.) Gladys Wanga",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 590,
        "legal_name": "Gladys Atieno Nyasuna",
        "slug": "gladys-atieno-nyasuna"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Caleb Kositany, M.P., regarding utilisation of COVID-19 funds raised on Wednesday, 29th April 2020; Hon. Jude Njomo, M.P. regarding the taxes allegedly being charged on PPEs raised on Wednesday 6th May 2020; Hon. T.J. Kajwang’ M.P. regarding tax evasion and repackaging of alcoholic beverages by several companies in the country raised on 6th May 2020 and Hon. Owen Baya, regarding disbursement of Equalisation Fund pursuant to Article 204 of the Constitution. Hon. Speaker, we have provided the Members with these answers. Therefore, I will not go through every detail. I will only highlight a few points. I will also be tabling these answers so that other Members can also get an opportunity to look at them. On the response to the Statement by Hon. Caleb Kositany regarding utilisation of COVID-19 funds, this is now being tackled adequately by the Departmental Committee on Health. I know that the Public Accounts Committee has also requested the Auditor-General to do a special audit of these funds. Therefore, we might even say to an extent, it has been overtaken by events. However, Hon. Kositany asked how the Kshs40 billion for COVID-19 which is now much more was utilised during the period of the spread and prevention of Coronavirus, which health responses were undertaken, and how much tax refunds have been made by KRA. How many elderly persons have been paid? How much was spent by the NIS during the said period and the reasons for giving out extra allocations to NIS? How much has been paid to SMEs to cushion their businesses during the pandemic? What criteria was used to identify the beneficiaries, and how many medical personnel have been recruited? The National Treasury responded that it presented a budget of Kshs44.8 billion to cover for COVID-19 interventions in the 2019/2020 Supplementary Estimates that were approved by the National Assembly. There is a whole chart which has a breakdown of which departments were allocated how much. Hon. Kositany should have a copy of this. Therefore, I will not go through every line item because it is rather long. The National Treasury also stated the reason this response might not actually be adequate because it is being handled by the various departments that were given this money. The National Treasury stated that, to adequately respond to the details of the issues raised by the Member, the National Treasury has requested the implementing agencies to furnish them with that information which they do not have at the moment. However, they ended up saying that on the item on MSMEs, the National Treasury was considering the comments from the Public participation for the draft PFM Credit guarantee scheme regulations 2020 for operationalisation of the credit guarantee scheme for MSMEs. The beneficiaries of the guarantee would be identified through the participating financial intermediaries once the regulations are issued. The process of boarding the PFIs has commenced in line with the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act of 2015. The National Treasury plans to roll out the credit guarantee scheme by mid-September 2020. All the details are with the Member and would also be tabled. On the second question by Hon. Jude Njomo, regarding the taxes allegedly being charged on PPEs, again, it is a question for whose time has gone, now that buying of PPEs has really gone down. However, Hon. Njomo asked the KRA to confirm whether the PPEs are still subject to 25 percent import duty and why KRA Simba System is classifying PPEs under a new tariff code 6307.90. Therefore, calling for 0 percent VAT but 25 percent import duty on PPEs. KRA responded as follows to the issues raised in the Statements to confirm that PPEs are still subject to 25 percent import duty: The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}