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{
    "id": 1511328,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1511328/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 404,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kitui Central, WDM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr) Makali Mulu",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "taxes on coal automatically means that cement prices are likely to go up, which will disadvantage the Affordable Housing Programme. Those things are connected, and it is important that we get them right. The proposal to reduce the taxes on coal is a positive move in terms of ensuring that we support the Affordable Housing Programme, otherwise, if we were to retain those taxes, they would make cement expensive causing problems for the country. My last contribution is on the Railway Development Levy being increased from 1.5 per cent to 2.5 per cent. I note that the Chairman has said that they are likely to increase it from 1.5 per cent to 2 per cent. I plead with the Committee to reconsider that increase because our country relies on imported inputs and foodstuffs. Increasing that levy will increase the cost of transportation, which will be pushed to the consumer of the final product. In reality, that move will negatively impact the economy by increasing the costs of almost all products. The Committee needs to rethink that. We will not help the economy if we increase the cost of living at a time when most Kenyans have very little disposable income. The basic principles of economics are that for you to grow the economy, you need to trigger more demand for goods, so that people buy more, creating room for more production, which will translate to more employment. You will then be able to collect more income tax, VAT and other taxes. Increasing the Railway Development Levy is likely to be compared with the move to increase fuel prices. Chairman and Members of the Committee, we need to look at how much we are supposed to collect with that increase and see whether we could collect that money from another source. Otherwise, that single move can easily negate the entire Bill. With those many remarks, I support the Bill. I thank the Committee for a job well done. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker, once more, for your consideration in giving me the chance to contribute."
}