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"id": 191953,
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"speaker_name": "Mr. Yinda",
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"legal_name": "Edwin Ochieng Yinda",
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"content": "Thank you Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir, for giving me the opportunity to support this very important Motion. I would like to also thank the hon. Minister for a job well done. As was mentioned in the House, this was, probably, one of the most difficult Budgets to prepare. However, I think overall, he did a very good job. Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir, I would like to support the hon. Minister on taxation by encouraging Members of Parliament to pay their dues. I think it is important that when ordinary Kenyans pay taxes without too much complaint, Members of Parliament should also lead by example by paying taxes on our allowances without too much shouting about it. I think many, or most, of the Members of Parliament are willing and will support the paying of taxes. However, I believe that Kenyans are very highly taxed. We should be looking at the overall tax regulation. What is the maximum amount of taxation an individual should be forced to pay. As far as I am concerned, personal taxes are very high. If we were looking at the maximum personal tax in the region of 20 per cent, that would be reasonable. It would also ensure that many more people, who are doing everything possible not pay taxes, would pay it. That would also apply to corporate tax, which at the moment is at the level of 30 per cent. In my view, this is too high. Again, Corporate tax has been reduced to 20 per cent. I think we have been reasonable. Once we have friendly tax regulations, I think the honourable Minister will not have difficulties in collecting taxes. Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir, on zero rating tax on motor cycles of up to 250 CC, it would be my view that, if we remove all the taxation on motorcycles of up to 250 cc, the young people who are using them as boda boda would find it a little easier to purchase them and, eventually, or, very shortly, they will also be coming into the bracket of taxpayers. So, that will also help the Minister to collect more money which can be used for the development of this country. 1462 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES June 26, 2008 Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir, I would like to commend the Minister for setting aside Kshs1 million per constituency for sporting activities. The amount of Kshs1 million is a good gesture, but it is not enough. Maybe, next year, if the Government could increase that figure a little bit, it would go a long way in supporting what has already been started. Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir, I would like to ask the Minister for Finance to also look seriously into poverty financing. We already have the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF) which is helping a lot. But, again, many hon. Members have talked about the possibility of increasing CDF to about 5 per cent, 7.5 per cent or even more. But it would be nice if the CDF Act could be re-looked into, so that we can use some of that money to empower our womenfolk in the villages to engage in trading. There is a lot of small trading going on in the villages, but the biggest problem is lack of capital. I am suggesting that the money should not be given out free. It should be loaned out to traders, both youths and women, so that they can use that money to trade. Eventually, the Minister will find out that those groups of Kenyans will make more money and, eventually, they will enter into the tax bracket. They will pay their taxes. Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir, going back to beer and alcohol, yes, I agree that those who can afford to pay for the high brands of beer should be taxed. But there are also many Kenyans who cannot afford those high brands. I am looking at a situation where the Government should even look at ways of encouraging the local brews. I do not see why, for example, those who brew chang'aa cannot be encouraged to brew it. We should bring in industries which can clean up that product, so that it becomes, not a killer drink, but a drink that can be enjoyed by our people, but at an affordable cost. Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir, I would like to lend my support to the creation of the Budget Office, so that Parliament can get involved in the making and preparation of the Budget. Why do I say that? When newcomers to Parliament, like myself, look at the Budget or the Estimates--- When you look at the roads, for example, some areas or some districts are being allocated more money than others. Really, what comes to mind is the George Orwell's AnimalFarm, where some districts are more equal than others. So, we should really do away with that. If the budgeting process is brought back to Parliament, it will be up to this House to ensure that resources are equitably distributed. All the parts of this country will be developed equally, without knowing so and so or being close to so and so in such and such Ministry. I think we have to get away from that mode of doing business. Finally, Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir, I would like to support the reduction of tax on cement. That is one area where, as one hon. Member mentioned, the two companies that are entrusted with producing cement in this country took advantage and held everybody at ransom. They charged very exorbitant rates for cement. Therefore, I support the reduction of duty on imported cement. That will definitely increase the rate of growth in the building industry. Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir, with those few remarks, I beg to support."
}