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{
    "id": 1218312,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1218312/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 120,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13217,
        "legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
        "slug": "cherarkey-k-samson"
    },
    "content": "This is a very serious issue that goes beyond this Statement. Some individuals within KRA must face the full force of the law. This is because this issue of tax relief was a noble idea, but it was misused along the way. Therefore, looking at our budget, you have seen the Budget Policy Statement (PBS). The Chairperson of the Committee on Finance and Budget in the National Assembly has also indicated that we might end up borrowing Kshs860 billion to finance our budget deficit. This is because tax reliefs, exemptions and evasions are being misused and abused by individuals who do not want to pay taxes. Therefore, it forces our budget to go into a tax deficit. If everybody pays taxes in this country, as President William Ruto has said, then we shall be able to fund activities including paying for tuition fees for our students from Sawagongo High School and other schools. I agree that tax relief should only be given to Kenyans that are in vulnerable situations. KRA must and should be accountable and follow the law when they are issuing tax relief. I know there are changes in KRA. The former head of KRA, Mr. Mburu and other Commissioners were interdicted, and others were fired. They must face the full force of the law. I know we will attend the vetting. Mr. Speaker, Sir, you have been a governor and you served with a number of your colleagues in governorship positions for the last ten years. Out of curiosity, I have never understood why KRA would penalize a county for not remitting statutory deductions and Pay as You Earn (PAYE), yet they are aware that there is a delayed disbursement from the National Treasury. Sometimes, KRA prevents devolution from being efficient. This is because, KRA knows that the National Treasury has not released funds to counties, yet they go ahead and penalize your county, for example, when you were a Governor in Kilifi, our brother, Jackson Mandago, when he was in Uasin Gishu or Sen. Ali Roba, when he was the Governor for Mandera. Why would KRA penalize a Government agency, not only county governments, when they can get that information and sort it out among other agencies? Those are some of the issues that KRA should deal with. However, I congratulate Sen. Crystal Asige. She continues to distinguish herself as the defender and pro-poor in terms of the vulnerable groups in this Republic."
}