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{
    "id": 1043622,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1043622/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 254,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Nominated, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. David ole Sankok",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13166,
        "legal_name": "David Ole Sankok",
        "slug": "david-ole-sankok"
    },
    "content": " Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I oppose the Tax Laws (Amendment) Bill until the Government accounts for the COVID-19 funds - that is the World Bank money and all the donations and loans we borrowed during this pandemic. I also oppose it until the Government gets the crooks of the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) heist. I oppose it until the Government gets “COVID-19 billionaires.” I oppose it until the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) brings to book the “Afya House” mafia. I oppose it until the DCI gets back the Jack Ma’s donations and apprehend all the culprits. I will only support this Bill if Hon. (Dr.) Nyikal’s tears are wiped by using the extra taxes to pay doctors. I will only support it if the extra taxes will be used for the comprehensive health insurance cover for all the health workers. I will only support it if the extra taxes will be for the Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) for health workers and also to pay school fees for our children who are going back to school in two weeks’ time. I will only support it if the extra taxes will be used to buy masks for our children who are about to go back to school. Our priorities are totally upside down. If those taxes will be directed to verification of signatures, I will oppose the Bill. If the extra taxes that Kenyans will be paying during this particular pandemic when they are still dying will be used for the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) and referendum, I will totally oppose the Bill. Other countries like Saudi Arabia have extended the tax measures. But what are we doing here in Kenya? We are revising them. When other countries are thinking of vaccines, in this country, we are thinking about the BBI and referendum. Kenyans are dying! The pandemic is increasing and the mortality rate has also increased. We have lost colleagues, relatives, friends and children and yet, we think that we are now living normally and okay. Which “okay” are you talking about when some Members of this House are lying cold in the mortuaries? Which “okay” are we now? When did we attain stability in terms of this COVID-19? There is development of new strains of COVID-19. We do not know whether we will lock down the country again. I heard that the United Kingdom (UK) is thinking of locking down their airspace because of the entry of a new strain of COVID-19. This House cannot be used to strangle Kenyans who are dying because we are the peoples’ representatives. Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) are suffering out there. It will be immoral for me to say that those who are earning little salaries will be taxed while our taxes will be used for the wrong priorities in this country. I will not accept that. Let us wipe the tears of Hon. (Dr.) Nyikal. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I oppose."
}