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{
    "id": 1485416,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1485416/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 280,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Teso South, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Mary Emaase",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. At the outset, I would like to congratulate Hon. Kawanjiku for bringing this Motion before this House. I want to appreciate the Committee for their good work. Hon. Temporary Speaker, this Motion by Hon. Kawanjiku has brought to the fore some of the rot in our very own Government. Sometimes I do not understand whether we have two governments, one that frustrates its own businesspeople, and another one that still requires taxes so that we can run the country. The fact that one company is exempted from paying legitimate taxes, thus defeating the very principle of fair competition as espoused in the Competition Act, 2019, is criminal and illegal. Therefore, this matter should move from here to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to carry out further investigations and take action against the characters who are committing such kinds of criminal acts. Hon. Temporary Speaker, there are companies in this country which are running legitimate businesses, paying taxes, earning genuine profits, yet they are frustrated as if they are not Kenyans. Talk of our ports, for example. There are companies which, after they import their wares, they cannot be cleared, not because they do not have money, but because they have to go and see certain powerful individuals and oil their hands before they can be allowed to clear their goods. That is not fair. I remember that during the tenure of the late President Kibaki, he gave an ultimatum of 48 hours. Once a ship docked and the goods landed, they had to be cleared within 48 hours. When one company is given an exemption, yet others are not given similar treatment, that becomes an undue advantage. Just to echo what Hon. Atandi said, that is why businesspeople get frustrated and flee to Tanzania or other countries in East Africa and Africa because our environment is not conducive for business. We are chasing away our own businesspeople. The House needs to take this matter seriously. If we are to grow our economy, we know the contributions that businesses make to the economy, including employment. We must do something. We must re-look at the law and make any necessary amendments. It is time this House reined in on such practices and set things right for this country to grow. I support the Report of the Committee."
}