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{
    "id": 1046103,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1046103/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 94,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Olekina",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 407,
        "legal_name": "Ledama Olekina",
        "slug": "ledama-olekina"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I would like to comment on the Statement raised by Sen. (Dr.) Ali. I think this is a matter, which does not only affect county governments but also this Senate in particular the staff of the Senate. This is a bigger problem. What I would like to see is a way where National Treasury can also be involved because we are all alive to the fact that county governments do not receive their money on time. Senate office and parliamentary staff have also not been paid. Today is the 11th February, 2021 and the deadline for submitting taxes (PAYE) is on the 9th February, 2021. Mr. Speaker, Sir, when we do not receive the money and when the county governments do not receive the money, these penalties continue to increase. We have to look at this issue in a broader perspective where instead of these government entities accruing more taxes, we can find a way to discuss with Treasury or this Parliament passes a law that these penalties do not continue increasing. I sit with Sen. (Dr.) Ali in the Committee on Health. We sat with NHIF and they brought up the same issues. There, we were able to request NHIF to give a moratorium of about three months without charging any penalties or without stopping the services that they render to the staff because of the challenge we have in revenue collection in this country. Mr. Speaker, Sir, this is a matter that the Committee on Labor and Social Services should find a way to engage. They should also invite Treasury, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and all these other entities to find out how do we then stop these penalties and how do we waive them to ensure that at least when county governments are paying what is due to these statutory bodies, they do not continue paying more penalties? The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}