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{
    "id": 1082744,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1082744/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 157,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kitui East, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Nimrod Mbai",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13386,
        "legal_name": "Nimrod Mbithuka Mbai",
        "slug": "nimrod-mbithuka-mbai"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for the time you have given me to add my voice to this very important Report. As we look at sustenance of our economy, one of the variables which have to be at the top is tax collection. To enhance our basket in terms of revenue, there are several areas we need to look at. We have had problems and challenges from former governments which have continued to pose problems to our revenue collection programmes. One of the things that baffle me is that we have seen continued increment in taxes. The Government increases tax on bread instead of increasing the number of people who produce bread. You increase tax on beer instead of increasing the number of companies producing beer. I would recommend that we look at the most critical function of a government, which is to provide an enabling economy for the private sector to grow. With the growth of the private sector, we will have so many taxable organisations cropping up. That will increase our tax base and our tax basket. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, we are also looking at the Government coming in with incentives to help grow sectors like agriculture. This is a sector that has not been invested in fully and very few people are going into it because of the challenges around it. The Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Budget and Appropriations, if we could have Government bringing in incentives, that is one of the areas you can push the Government to participate in. I am worried that you are about to leave Government and become a governor. I do not know how we will survive without you here. It is one area that you can help us get more revenue. We have governments across the world and that is how Asia grew its tax base. It is by their governments coming up with wealth creation programmes. All that a young medical graduate from the University of Nairobi has are his papers, some knowledge and energy. He cannot pay taxes. However, if supported, he will even employ 20 people who will pay taxes. How do we support this young man? That is where the Government comes in. We have many funds like the Youth Enterprise Development Fund changing their names within financial years. This financial year it maybe the Youth Enterprise Development Fund"
}