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{
    "id": 1073591,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1073591/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 150,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Uasin Gishu CWR, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Ms.) Gladys Boss Shollei",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13278,
        "legal_name": "Gladys Jepkosgei-boss Shollei",
        "slug": "gladys-jepkosgei-boss-shollei"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I rise to support this Bill, but with several reservations which we expect that we - as Parliament at some time - should be able to get a response. We have been told by the Mover of the Motion that the tax exemption being extended to Kenya Airways is ostensibly to help Kenya Airways get back on its feet because of the challenges due to the pandemic. They have also argued that Kenya Airways plays a pivotal role in tourism in this country and that is true and that is all good. However, the issue is Kenya Airways is owned 45 per cent by the Government and the rest is owned by private business individuals. Therefore, what is actually happening here is a few privileged private businessmen who have the privilege of being shareholders in a Government company are actually being cushioned against the COVID-19 Pandemic. However, you must remember that there are millions of other business persons and companies in this country who do not get a similar cushioning. In fact, recently, the Government imposed a minimum tax on them and were it not for the courts, they would be in dire trouble. Therefore, why is it that businesses that are in business with Government are getting this cushioning? When you say that Kenya Airways plays a pivotal role in tourism, what about the thousands and millions of hotel owners, lodge owners in places like the Mara and some of our tourism sites who actually bring huge revenue to this country? They have not been cushioned. They are suffering. Recently, I was in the Mara and all the lodges were closed. Therefore, the entire community was suffering. Who is cushioning those people? Who is cushioning our ordinary business persons in Kenya from this pandemic? We should be saying as a House: Let us stop discussing individual companies - even if it is a state-owned company. It amounts to discrimination. Who is cushioning our operators of 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."
}