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{
    "id": 1043572,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1043572/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 204,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Suba South, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. John Mbadi",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 110,
        "legal_name": "John Mbadi Ng'ong'o",
        "slug": "john-mbadi"
    },
    "content": "to help get us to some level where now individuals will say we can survive moving forward. Whenever you are adjusting tax rates to the disadvantage of individuals, you must work on a plan to support the same individuals, maybe not the same earners but some Kenyans. Therefore, when we were debating whether VAT should be reduced or not and whether we should reduce the rate of taxation, many of us spoke about the Government failing to direct resources to the less privileged and disadvantaged Kenyans. I must admit that the Government has made some effort. If you stand here and say that the Government has not made any serious effort from March, I think you are not being fair to the Government and you are being economical with the truth. The Government has actually made some progress. There are some poor Kenyans right from Nairobi especially in urban centres who have been helped to go through this period of the Coronavirus. Whether it is sufficient, that is debatable. We have to see continued support to the same vulnerable groups using the same revenue that is going to be collected out of this change of tax rate. Many of us have said that we are being overtaxed in this country. I have always said it is not true that Kenyans are being overtaxed. If you look at our tax rates, they compare favourably with other tax rates in the region. In fact, our tax rates are even lower. Look at the VAT rate. It is the lowest in the region. The tax rate for VAT in the region is 18 per cent and we are at 16 per cent. There are some places where individual income tax rates the highest bracket is even 45 per cent. The problem in this country is not over taxation. The problem in this country is improper utilisation of resources that are realised out of taxation. The corruption, theft and plunder of public resources is where the problem is. If Kenyans were paying taxes at the rate at which we are paying and you go to public schools and you get quality education with all resources available and all support given to our children… If you went to a public hospital and you get quality healthcare and not what we see where doctors are going on strike almost every day; if you go back to your home and you will not miss to have clean water for all of us including those who live in rural areas and all other services that are necessary for human existence, no one would complain about the taxes that we pay in this country. This is because they are not abnormal. The rates are reasonable and within the average. The only problem we have is the appetite for plunder of public resources. This is something that has eluded this country. We try and make attempts but we go back to where we are. I still persuade and plead with the agencies that are responsible for fighting corruption that they should continue and not lose sight. They should continue fighting this vice to help this country. That is where the problem is. I agree entirely with the outgoing Chief Justice. I think now I should even call him former Chief Justice because he has basically surrendered his functions. The former Chief Justice was spot on when he said that the biggest challenge and problem we have in this country is not even the Coronavirus. It is corruption. We are going to surrender more resources to the Government while you argue that it is what they used to get before the Coronavirus. That money is supposed to be spent on PPEs, on supporting our healthcare staff and all the other public servants in this county, but the next thing you will hear is COVID billionaires. You will hear of people stealing left right and centre, and then you are given assurance that something is being done and investigation is ongoing. Up to now, where is the investigation on the KEMSA saga? Let it come out. Kenyans want to know who these COVID-19 billionaires are. There was sensationalisation. There are so many people who talked about people, politicians and Members of Parliament. Now the whole thing has gone quiet. If a Member of Parliament walks in the streets, people think he or she is a COVID millionaire. We want to see and read the names of the Members of Parliament, politicians or Kenyans who are so heartless. We want to see action 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."
}