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{
    "id": 1441134,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1441134/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 210,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Laikipia, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Jane Kagiri",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this important Bill. Let me congratulate the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning for listening to Kenyans and honouring their request to delete the punitive taxes. On the introduction of Eco Levy on sanitary towels and diapers, I speak as the Chairperson of the 47 women representatives. Recently, we enacted the Education Act of 2016, which ensured that girls from class 5 to 8 receive sanitary towels. Out of the 47 counties, only four local manufacturers were given the opportunity to supply these sanitary towels. This prominent House has been treated to a lot of drama and untruthful stories of the situation we find ourselves in with sanitary towels. This levy has been introduced so that we can encourage local production and manufacturers. I have heard some Members saying we will have a low supply because we do not have enough manufacturers. I had conversations with our manufacturers, and they can produce enough sanitary towels for us. I visited the supermarkets and realised that locally manufactured sanitary towels are cheaper than the imported ones. We cannot allow importers to continue making unscrupulous profits on Kenyans, yet they pay no Excise Duty on their products while local manufacturers have to pay VAT on raw materials. I support this Bill. I also support the Eco Levy on sanitary towels and diapers to ensure that we grow local manufacturers. A local manufacturer told me he used to have 600 employees. He has reduced them to 100 because of idle capacity. It is our time to stop speaking from both sides of our mouths. If we want to create employment, we cannot be the defenders of importers. Anybody who wants to import can come set up their industry locally. That way, we will give them all the business that they need. If they lack a place to establish their industries, I gladly welcome them to Laikipia County, where they can set up a manufacturing industry. We will not charge them any duty as long as they are producing diapers and sanitary towels locally or within the country. Allow me to conclude by saying that I speak as a user of sanitary towels and a mother of a toddler who uses diapers. Imported sanitary towels range in price from Ksh75 to around Ksh175. Locally produced sanitary towels range between Ksh55 and…"
}