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{
    "id": 1442261,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1442261/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 359,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mavoko, WDM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Patrick Makau",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Speaker. I will restrict myself to the Finance Bill 2024. When I was going through this Bill, I was very optimistic. I had thought that this Government would redeem itself, given that Kenyans underwent serious suffering resulting from the proceeds of the 2023 Bill. When I looked at this Bill, I wondered. I am listening to Members who claim to be from the sugar-farming areas. I come from an area where bread is the order of the day. This Bill has not defined bread. They spoke of gluten and bread. When you come to Mlolongo and Athi River, most hustlers trade in bread in the form of mandazi, samosas, and the like. It broke my heart when I saw the proposal for bread to be subjected to 16 per cent VAT. As I stand in this House, I have looked at Clauses 9, 25, 23, 35, and 63, and I sometimes wonder about the Executive's advisers regarding this Bill. In this Government's manifesto, they said that they were going to take care of the hustlers —mama mbogas and boda bodas. However, when I look at this proposal, none addresses their well-being. Regarding the proposal that wanted to amend the Data Protection Act, Cap 2(114C), I wish to remind our colleagues on the other side that yesterday, we had Members whose accounts were frozen, including the then tanga ones, because the same Data Protection Act was misused. Today, if someone proposes that our personal data be given to the KRA and our Government can come into place, someone might say that you owe the Government Ksh100 million in taxes. It is high time this is understood. Let us say no to such proposals. I have looked at the Report and I know that the Departmental Committee on Finance and Planning has done something. However, we must be cautious. There is no way I will sit here knowing that the Government must fund its budget. We must look at what is happening to the collected taxes and why Kenyans are not paying taxes. I join speakers who said we should lessen the tax brackets so that Kenyans pay less and be encouraged to pay more taxes, and hence realise the monies that we want to finance the budget with. 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."
}