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{
"id": 191956,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/191956/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Musila",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister, Ministry of State for Defence",
"speaker": {
"id": 94,
"legal_name": "David Musila",
"slug": "david-musila"
},
"content": ". Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has done a commendable job over the years. We have seen a steady increase in revenue collection by KRA. Every time, they have been surpassing their targets. Therefore, I need to commend them just as the previous speakers have done. June 26, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 1463 Having said that, Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir, we still have many containers coming into this country and off-loading uncustomed goods. We still have many containers with goods that are meant for export markets being off-loaded in this country. I must lament the collapse of some of our industries, for example, the textile industry which, as you know, was the biggest employer of our people. You remember KICOMI, RIVATEX, MOUNTEX, Thika Clothing Mills and many other textile mills which were flourishing years ago. But because of cheap importation of uncustomed goods, our textile industry, which was the biggest employer of our people, collapsed. Therefore, I would like to implore KRA to use all the necessary measures to ensure that uncustomed goods are not allowed into this country. We know that they have made efforts, but we know that there are still many uncustomed goods. That is why you will find very cheap textiles which cannot compete with the remaining textile industries in this country. The same applies to footwear. We know that our foot wear industry has also nearly collapsed. We know Bata Limuru has not been doing well of late. It is obvious to anybody why our local industries are dying. You just need to walk through Gikomba and other parts of the City and you will find cheap shoes from Korea, China, Indonesia and elsewhere. When you buy a pair of shoes from Korea, all it means is that you have just put one of our youths out of employment. So, I am putting to the Minister, that along with the efforts by the Kenya Revenue Authority to see to it that these goods which come to this country uncustomed are customed. The Minister needs to do everything possible to increase tax to these imported textiles, foot wear and all goods that tend deprive our young people of employment. We have a serious problem of unemployment in this country and all of us know this fact. But we must take deliberate taxation measures on imported goods so that goods which are manufactured locally are given preference. Industries that provide employment to our people must be given priority. We must do everything possible to improve or strengthen our industry. This is because we know that this country, if it goes the way it is going, we are sitting on a time bomb because of our youths who are unemployed. It pains me when I go to the supermarkets and see how many goods are on the shelves, some of them side by side with our locally produced goods and our goods are more expensive than the imported ones. It is upon the Minister for Finance to investigate and see why our goods are always more expensive than the imported ones. Is it because these goods are coming without paying tax? We know that there are unscrupulous businessmen who do not pay tax. The Minister must do everything possible to close all the loopholes on imported goods and, therefore, increase employment opportunities for our youth. Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir, I also want to comment on the food shortage that is prevailing in the country. The Minister did a good thing to zero-rate bread, but as far as I am aware, wheat still attracts some duty. The world market price of wheat has gone up tremendously, therefore, making bread to be out of reach of the ordinary mwananchi . The Minister must look for ways of ensuring that food is affordable, especially this time, even if he has to suspend duties for food for the period when we are experiencing world shortages, so that every person can access food. These are difficult times when people cannot afford food because it is scarce and expensive. I know the Minister can suspend duty for some commodities, particularly food, for the time being so that we ensure that food is affordable. I know it is going to be difficult. There is no point of having any duty on any foodstuff that can make it to be out of reach of the ordinary mwananchi . Before I conclude, Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir, I want to comment on the issue of Income Tax. There was a proposal by the Minister that hon. Members of Parliament should pay Income Tax. I do not think hon. Members raised any objection to this, but we have since been vilified, condemned, bashed and called all sorts of names. I want to say here, for the interest of those who care to hear or write, that, in fact, Members of Parliament pay taxes. Every Member here pays Kshs600,000 per year in Income Tax. That should be said because it has been made as if 1464 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES June 26, 2008 Members of Parliament do not pay tax at all. I know, for sure that Members of Parliament pay Kshs600,000 per annum, the very minimum. Therefore, if the Minister proposes to get additional tax from Members, it is natural and it is a matter that can be debated and Members can take a decision on it. But for now, I think to be fair, Members of Parliament should not be condemned unnecessarily. With those few remarks, I beg to support."
}