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{
    "id": 1416466,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1416466/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 120,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Ruku",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13652,
        "legal_name": "Geoffrey Kiringa Ruku",
        "slug": "geoffrey-kiringa-ruku"
    },
    "content": "Hon Speaker, the Special Economic Zones Act of 2015 was enacted to inter-alia provide a framework for establishment of Special Economic Zones, the promotion and facilitation of global and local investors. The development and management of an enabling environment for trade and investments. Since the enactment of the Act, over 35 Special Economic Zones have been gazetted. Despite the large number of gazetted zones and massive tax incentives that they claim annually, the number of SEZs in the country seem to be incommensurate and the SEZs are characterised with low productivity which has made their impact indemonstrable. Further, the Special Economic Zones Authority website shows that only three of the gazetted SEZs are public while the rest are private. The foregoing state of affairs could be a pointer to a likelihood of a compromised integrity of SEZs. Unscrupulous land dealers purportedly selling land within SEZs without paying taxes and duties could exploit and woo unsuspecting Kenyans and investors into economic exploitation without any economic benefits. It is against this background that I request a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning on the following: 1. Could the Chairman provide a status report on the economic feasibility of each of the Special Economic Zone gazetted since 2015, including the identities of the promoters and beneficial owners? 2. Could the Chairperson provide a status report on the amount of land leased out or sold in each Special Economic Zone, the identities of the purchasers or leasers and whether the said purchasers or leasers have invested in the respective Special Economic Zones? 3. What are the number and types of jobs created for Kenyans by each of the zones, including the quantum of PAYE taxes paid each year? 4. What quantum of exemptions and waivers have been extended to each Special Economic Zone developer, operator, and enterprise in respect of corporation tax, 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"
}