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"id": 191949,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/191949/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Shakeel",
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"speaker": {
"id": 140,
"legal_name": "Ahmed Shakeel Shabbir Ahmed",
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir. I would like to applaud the Minister for the way he moved this Motion. With due respect, I would wish to seek some June 26, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1457 clarification. In respect of motorcycles, the proposal is not very clear, but I presume that the Minister means zero-rating only in respect of VAT. If that be the case, I would like to plead with the Minister to, perhaps, consider the cost of transportation which is a major cost in this country. Many of the poor are condemned to utilise matatus and other means of transport that do not give them the type of support that they need. Perhaps, the Minister may consider reducing the custom duty on motorcycles, say, up to 70 cc to 100 cc so that ordinary wananchi can get access. In many countries, for example, China, India and others, these motorcycles are more or less the cheapest they can get. So, I would urge that there should be no VAT or a very low tax be imposed on a certain brand of motorcycles, of course, not the ones with 250 cc, which are probably used by richer people. My second proposal which I would like to say with humility because, perhaps, I do not understand it too well and its implications is with respect to import duty on gymnasium equipment. Why did the Minister restrict this to hotels only? I do appreciate what the Minister said; that it will boost tourism. However, this will affect very few people and the impact will be very minimal. If the Minister could be more generous to mwananchi --- After all, how many of them are going to get gymnasium equipment? Speaking as an hon. Member, I would like to promote our youth who are doing nothing. We are trying to promote gymnasium activities. We are limited to using jua kali weights which are not appropriate. If the Minister could kindly extend that to all gymnasium equipment, I think it will help wananchi, especially the youth, to create other venues of getting rid of their aggravations. Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir, the proposal to reduce building costs is admirable. I know we are all trying. That is the most important aspect of building that will give us growth in this country. He has already zero-rated duty on hot rolling steel. He has also kindly considered reducing the import tax on cement from 40 per cent to 20 per cent. Many of us are held at ransom by the monopoly of the cement producers because they are only two. Sometimes, cement retails in Kisumu for nearly Kshs900 a bag, while you can get it for Kshs750 in Nairobi. The reason they give for the difference is transportation. We need an alternative supply. If the local industry is not able to match with the demand, and if the Minister could consider reducing the tax from 20 per cent to, say, 10 per cent, I think it will improve the building industry in this country. It will also give a signal to the two groups that are holding us at ransom that they have to play their part. This Government, for some time, has been very clear on what is called free trade market economy. Somewhere along the line, Mr. Minister, we need to lay certain ground rules, especially where it affects the poorest of the poor. No matter what you say, the companies will not reduce the price of bread unless the Minister has some stick to ensure that, that is done. I wonder whether he will consider something by way of penalties for those who do not reduce the price immediately. That also covers petrol. If not, then, perhaps, we will recommend the prices for bread. That will ensure price restrictions which also comes with their evils. We are also talking about garbage vehicles. Again, a very noble idea! I am privy to some of those very ingenious importers who are now designing to bring in purpose-built garbage vehicles that they will be dismantling over here. You will find many big lorries coming in. So, perhaps, I am sure compliance will be taken care of. However, that does not help the garbage industry. What we do not need - and I speak as a former Mayor - is compactors. What we do not need is that sort of equipment that comes from Europe, and which is used to compact our garbage. What we need is to utilise and recycle our garbage. Until we are taught how to put garbage in the right places, it is going to be detrimental to our industries. If the Minister could look at that issue a little bit more carefully, we could come up with another proposal in respect of those vehicles which are specifically used for garbage. You have the custom duty aspect on it, but you can also, like in 1458 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES June 26, 2008 certain countries, paint them a certain colour and they can do nothing else other than garbage control. If they do not do that, then the road inspectors get down to them. Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir, there are a number of other issues but, I join my colleagues in requesting that the low income group be allowed to soak away their difficulties in a glass of alcohol that is not going to be harmful to them. Although we do not want to support any particular industry, I would like to suggest to the Minister that he reduces the tax only on those ones. It will not affect the overall bill because how many people will be drinking that? It will only be the poorest of the poor! That is my humble presentation. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}