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{
    "id": 235173,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/235173/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 316,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Kimunya",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Finance",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 174,
        "legal_name": "Amos Muhinga Kimunya",
        "slug": "amos-kimunya"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Temporary Deputy Chairman, Sir, in order for us all to be clear on this, the clause proposes to tax certain benefits especially the house and entertainment allowances for the constitutional office holders. Hon. Members are aware of the public desire that every Kenyan should contribute to the running of this country and that nobody should be exempt from any tax. We have looked at it across the board and said constitutional office holders' incomes are ringfenced terms of what cannot be deleted except for house allowance and entertainment allowances. This proposed amendment is consistent with the Constitution. We have double checked that. We have got the legal opinion both from the House and advisors. For the benefit of the hon. Members, the house and entertainment allowances are not considered as salaries when computing the pensions of the constitutional office holders and this position is also supported within Section 104 of the Constitution. So, basically what we are trying to do is to ensure that every Kenyan has an opportunity to contribute through tax and nobody is barred by the law that you cannot contribute because the law says you should not be taxed. We are doing that for them to feel they are part of society. By contributing a bit of their income or by taxing their house allowance and entertainment they feel they are Kenyans. I am sure this House will be supporting the current life we have of ensuring that we have our financial independence through raising the taxes and any message we send to the rest of the Kenyans that we want to tax the poor and we favour the rich is the wrong message from this House."
}