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{
    "id": 1268191,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1268191/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 148,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kikuyu, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Hon. Temporary Speaker, I beg to move that the National Rating Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 55 of 2022) be now read a Second Time. Article 209(5) of the Constitution confers on Parliament the powers to regulate the exercise of fiscal responsibilities by county governments. By dint of the Constitution, county governments have powers to impose levies and taxes on the people. Parliament is also given powers under Article 209(5) of the same Constitution to regulate the exercise of these fiscal responsibilities by our county governments. Firstly, it ensures that they do not impose taxes and levies that undermine the greater national good. Secondly, it ensures that there is uniformity, certainty and fairness in the taxes and rates that are levied across the country. This ensures that one county does not levy certain rates and taxes that are so obnoxious compared to those of other counties, making the cost of doing business in some counties more expensive than others. This is the reason and object of this Bill which seeks to provide for enhancement, certainty, uniformity and fairness in levying property rates by our county governments, while providing secure source of income or revenue for many of them that are suffering from very low own-source revenue. Indeed, the country appreciates that our county governments, under the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution, are charged with numerous functions and responsibilities. Kenyans in our constituencies are waiting for all of them to offer them goods and services. Many of the people who expect goods and services are owners of rate-able properties. Some of them, even in major cities like Nairobi, have a lot of non-uniformity and unfairness in the manner in which people pay rates. For instance, in Embakasi East Constituency where Hon. Babu comes from, you will find somebody with five acres of land because that is one of the constituencies within Nairobi where there are still large land owners. However, the amount of money they pay in terms of rates to the Nairobi City County is negligible compared to what somebody in Lavington or Kilimani pays for, say, half an acre or quarter of an acre. We also have slum billionaires in this country. 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."
}