HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept
{
"id": 1442037,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1442037/?format=api",
"text_counter": 135,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Molo, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Kuria Kimani",
"speaker": null,
"content": "fertilized eggs; these are ready to hatch. These are the ones that give us the one-day-old chicks. As a poultry farmer, when I went to buy my one-day old chicks, I was told that I needed to wait for four months before I get them. This means that the supply of fertilised eggs in this country is much lower than that of table eggs. However, we need to protect our eggs from imported eggs from other markets. You will recall that a few years ago, Kenyans were eating eggs from Uganda. This was at the expense of eggs that are laid by our own chicken here. It is implausible. It defeats any reason why we should allow an egg laid in a different country to land into our country at a cheaper price than eggs that are being produced by our farmers here. So, we have, therefore, introduced imposition of excise duty on imported table eggs, imported onions, and imported potatoes. This will ensure that we protect our onion, poultry and potato farmers, especially in Molo and Nyandarua. Based on these criteria, the proposal to exempt vegetable oils and fertilised eggs for incubation from excise duty amongst other things is what we used under this consideration. Further, in keeping with the tax system's predictability, the Committee proposes to maintain the excise duty on imported motorcycle, plastic, onions, potatoes, among others. I have explained that the excise duty has been proposed only on imported completely assembled motorcycles. We have local capacity of our manufacturers assembling our own motorcycles. Let us ride motorcycles that are assembled in Kenya. Hon. Speaker, importing completely assembled goods from China means three things: firstly, we are exporting our jobs to another country. Secondly, we are eroding our foreign exchange because once we do importation of those goods, we have to use our dollars. And that is where it took us last year with the deterioration of the Kenya shillings going to as low as Ksh167. Thirdly, we are certain of the quality of that particular product because you can go to that plant or factory to ascertain the quality of the products. In addition to that, we will be creating employment to our young men and women in this country. With regards to excise duty in services, the Committee was guided by the need to keep the consumer prices for certain services low and to ensure stability in terms of the rate of excise duty. Based on these criteria, the Committee proposes to maintain the prevailing rates on money transfer services by banks and financial institutions and money transfer services by cellular phone providers. You have heard the popular phrase, ‘ Tuma na ya kutoa’. So, we want to make sure that that tuma na ya kutoa is not increased so that we retain the current rate that is on our cellular mobile transfer services. Clause 44 of the Bill proposes an increase in the import declaration fee from 2.5 to 3 per cent. The Committee did not agree with the proposal noting that the reduction of the rate of import declaration fee from 3.5 per cent to 2.5 per cent in the Finance Act, 2023 occasioned a significant revenue loss amounting to at least Ksh10 billion, hence hurting the implementation of the Financial Year 2023/24 Budget. The two supplementary budgets have led to a very huge cut on our expenditures. One of the decisions we made last year to reduce IDF from 3.5 to 2.5 per cent led to a revenue loss of 10 billion shillings. Clauses 45 and 48 of the Bill propose the introduction of an Eco Levy to mitigate environmental damage and pollution caused by imported finished products in Kenya. The Committee emphasizes that this levy should exclusively apply to imported finished products, therefore, safeguarding local manufacturers who are already adhering to what is called the Extended Producer Responsibility. Regarding stakeholder feedback and to mitigate price impacts on social goods, the Committee recommends excluding motorcycles, bicycle tyres, wheelchairs, three-wheel motorized vehicles, which you probably know as ‘tuk tuks’ and wheelbarrows, from this Levy. Additionally, the Committee proposes reducing the Eco Levy for select finished goods. These adjustments are intended to balance environmental protection with consumer affordability and 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."
}