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{
    "id": 1038002,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1038002/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 404,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Funyula, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr.) Wilberforce Oundo",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13331,
        "legal_name": "Wilberforce Ojiambo Oundo",
        "slug": "wilberforce-ojiambo-oundo-2"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Speaker. Let me take this opportunity to congratulate the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning for the wonderful job they have done by dissecting the agreement to avoid double taxation. I sit in the Departmental Committee of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives. Last week on Friday, the Ministry took us through the various bilateral trade agreements they are discussing with various countries and trading blocs. One of the issues that came out very clear is the issue of taxation regime. There is a perception all over the world that taxation regime in Kenya is too high. So, consequently there must be mechanisms. There could be a reason why many of the trading partners are including the issue of taxation as part of their agreement. I know we are just about to conclude the discussion with the United Kingdom on Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) dealing with various issues. I believe as a policy issue, the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning needs to look at the issue of taxation so that we are not disadvantaged in the global market. Generally, Kenyans are fairly educated and we export a massive amount of labour, skilled and unskilled to various parts of the world. It is important, therefore, that a succession regime is put in place to avoid a situation where you are taxed where you work and when you come back here as you file your tax returns you are asked to pay taxes again. This happened to me sometimes in 2010 when I was a lecturer in Rwanda and probably that is one of the reasons why I left. There is a genuine concern outside there that these kinds of agreements probably provide room for unscrupulous Kenyans to repatriate money to tax havens. We just hope and pray that in as much as it is important for this country, it will not be abused to hide money and avoid paying taxes, yet the country as we stand today is leaning against inadequate revenue. As I conclude, it is important to also note that Kenya as a trading bloc and strong trading country in the region is starting to face challenges which are inborn. We must address these challenges, otherwise we will lose our exalted position as the premium trading partner or bloc in the East Africa and African region. 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."
}