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{
"id": 191973,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/191973/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Ngugi",
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"speaker": {
"id": 112,
"legal_name": "David Mwaniki Ngugi",
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"content": "businesses. Many youths are buying those motorbikes. They are able to offer some 1468 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES June 26, 2008 transport at a cost to areas outside the towns, which are, otherwise, un-reachable. Those are the areas that even matatus do not go. So, I thought that was ingenious on the part of the Minister for Finance to encourage the growth of that industry. Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir, the Minister for Finance allowed some tax relief on gymnasium equipment for hotels. I thought that was a little bit narrow because the health of the people is not only in the hotel industry. We, as Kenyans, are taking more and more into sports. Here in Parliament, we have a gymnasium. If you go to golf clubs and other social clubs, they all have gymnasiums. If that has to be restricted only to the hotels that are enjoyed by tourists, it does not seem to benefit Kenyans who are paying taxes. It is benefitting foreigners who do not pay taxes. I would like to see the Minister for Finance widen that benefit so that anybody who wants to bring some sporting gymnasium equipment, even if it is for their own households, can get them at zero-rated prices. That way, we can encourage our people to exercise, grow healthy, live longer and develop this country. Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir, I am really not too sure of what was the benefit of reducing tax on easy opening ends of cans from 25 per cent to 10 per cent, for the packaging industry. To me, that is a small cosmetic thing compared with the reduction of taxes on sodium sulphate, aluminium sulphate and other measures that he has taken, particularly, to accelerate the construction industry. The construction industry in this country is one of the most expensive. Measures that would help to rejuvenate that industry and make the cost of building a house come down, would be most welcome. Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir, I want to say that these tax measures are not punitive, but they could be widened. Take, for example, where he linked Vision 2030 to cleaner cities; where he allowed trucks designed for garbage collection to come in duty free. I have looked at some local authorities and most of them do not have garbage collection vehicles, sewers, sewerage systems and garbage sites. But those vehicles can now come duty free and that will encourage local authorities to buy them and collect garbage. In effect, it will improve the health living conditions of our people. Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir, I am particularly grateful to the Minister for Finance for thinking it is good to spur the growth of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry. That is because the growth of any country in this time and age depends on the ICT industry. So, those are very commendable tax measures. But with regard to usage, I would like to see those taxes well controlled and any public servant who misuses public money is made liable for it. There is no need of paying taxes while others benefit from it. Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir, with those few remarks, I support the tax measures."
}