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{
"id": 419212,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/419212/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. A.B. Duale",
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"speaker": {
"id": 15,
"legal_name": "Aden Bare Duale",
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"content": "business. A time will come when this Bill will not be discussed at the Second Reading Stage until cows come home. Last week, we agreed in the House Business Committee, but I do not want to give a premature statement, that if we still have time today, we can finish it. Hon. Wambugu, that burning issue on the air transport will be handled at the Committee Stage. It will not serve you in the Second Reading. There are so many points of order; I want you to allow me to give my contribution for only five minutes. The genesis of hon. Mbadi’s VAT Bill is VAT Bill 2013, which we passed in September. There is a lot of notion out there that poor Kenyans are overtaxed. I want to make it very clear that in the VAT Bill, which was passed, the following items were exempted from it; I want to read them out:- (i) all unprocessed food items, including vegetables and tubers, maize, beans, milk, eggs and meat, which are consumed by majority of our people with low income and who live in both rural and urban areas. (ii) processed food including maize, wheat flour, bread, rice, infant food preparations, infant milk, medicine and pharmaceutical products, sanitary towels, fertilizers, selected seeds, agricultural plants, machinery among others. For us to discuss this amendment Bill by hon. Mbadi, we first need to get the original VAT 2013, which was passed, so that we can know exactly--- I know Mhe . Mbadi has brought issues on things which have been taxed. But Members, talk about hon. Mbadi bringing back the VAT Act, while some Members might bring back issues on beans, milk, eggs and meat which have already been exempted. So, please have a serious dialogue with hon. Mbadi, get the principal Act and look at it. Those items are already exempted; it is very clear. The VAT 2013 removed tax from all unprocessed and processed foods, and essential items consumed by most of the low-income group."
}