GET /api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1116892/?format=api
HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1116892,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1116892/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 264,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Matungulu, WDM-K",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Stephen Mule",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2321,
        "legal_name": "Stephen Mutinda Mule",
        "slug": "stephen-mutinda-mule"
    },
    "content": "last year in July. The international marketers are enjoying a tax exemption for two years and yet, our own Kenyans who have invested in petrol stations, pumps and in this business are not given that latitude to enjoy that exemption of tax. I want to urge Hon. Members that, when we will be bringing amendments on Withholding Tax for the local marketers, we will ensure that we pass it without a blink. There is no way we can allow foreigners to enjoy a tax exemption and Kenyans cannot enjoy that tax exemption. At this hour, this House will be very serious on this issue. There is the issue of demurrage. If you look at this Report, it is very saddening how the demurrage is impacting on the cost of fuel in this country. There is one ship which, once it docks at the Mombasa Port, it takes about 22 days without off-loading fuel. They are paying US$45,000 per day. If you look at that annex, there are colossal amounts of money which is going to demurrage. I want to tell Members, if demurrage on fuel is dealt with in this country, we will reduce the price of fuel by Kshs 40 per litre. We must rise to the occasion as Members of Parliament. I am very sure we will move with speed. I have seen that EPRA has just reduced the price of fuel this afternoon by about Kshs5. Next week, through this Parliament, we are going to reduce this price further to Kshs100 because we are the people who are making law. We are the people in charge of making changes to the taxation regime in this country. We cannot continue doing business as usual. I have heard people say that we need to balance the equation. It is true. We still need taxes to build this country. I thank the Committee because they agreed with me instead of scrapping the entire VAT; we should reduce it to 4 per cent for fuel and 8 per cent to LPG. The purpose of this is to make sure that when the price goes down internationally, the price of fuel in this country will go down as well. As a country, we cannot afford to lose the Petroleum Development Levy. Petroleum Development Levy is the only cushion we need as a country when international prices go up. I want to agree with the Committee that we just need to define what goes to EPRA out of the Kshs2.90 and what goes to the Fund and ring-fence that money to make sure that no CS or nobody in this country can take that money to roads or to the Ministry of Energy. That money belongs to Kenyans and must be used to stabilize prices for Kenyans without any diversion. I support and want to urge Members that we get united to deal with this Report this afternoon and by Tuesday, we work on the Bill."
}