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{
    "id": 1441546,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1441546/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 292,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Funyula, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) Ojiambo Oundo",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Hon. Speaker, in all fairness, how would you impose an income tax on an asset? How? I mean, a car is an asset. It is not an income-generating activity. How do you impose income tax on an asset? How do you impose VAT on the very basic things like bread, sanitary pads, and whatever they call it? In our days, they used to call them napkins. Now they are called pampers. During our days when we were parents, they were called napkins. How do you impose VAT and increase the cost of all those things in such a draconian manner in these hard times? They will pontificate that they have made changes to the Bill, that the benevolence of the Almighty, whether the Almighty God or whatever, has instructed them to make changes to the Bill. I still hold my position that a Committee Report does not negate a Bill. It is just a Committee Report. It can either be carried or it can be failed. So, I want to tell Kenyans wherever you are that, this is a red herring; this is a gimmick; do not fall for it. Be relentless in your push; be relentless in harassing your MPs to make sure they protect the rights and interests of Kenyans. Hon. Speaker, as we stand here, we have passed two Finance Bills under this regime. We passed the first one and this is the second one under this regime. They keep on gloating that we have reduced the fiscal deficit from six point something to three point something. I want Kenyans to understand this. Any reduction in the fiscal deficit must be commensurate with the improvement in the GDP growth rate. The GDP growth of Kenya has stagnated at 5 per cent. And the World Bank estimates this year indicates likewise, it should remain the same at 5 per cent. So, the so-called reduction in fiscal deficit is a paper story. It has no impact at all on the ground. Hon. Speaker, we need to be very careful. This is a country of close to 50 million Kenyans and all Kenyans must be treated equally without discrimination. Imposing a tax on some kind of raw material, clinker, so that you benefit and improve the economic value of a particular player in the industry, is unconstitutional and is extremely unfair. As I conclude, I want to send a message to the President. If he has read the book of Chinua Achebe, Okonkwo was told: “This boy has called you father! Do not kill him.” He went ahead and killed him because he had been told by customs to kill him. The IMF, Bretton Wood institutions and the USA are telling you to kill Kenyans, while Kenyans are crying. The blood of Kenyans should remain in your hands. Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I oppose."
}