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{
    "id": 467102,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/467102/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 292,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Nyamweya",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 391,
        "legal_name": "Manson Oyongo Nyamweya",
        "slug": "manson-nyamweya"
    },
    "content": "buying certain items. This means the increase in the prices of those commodities will result in a decline in revenue collection by the Government because there will be no consumption due to lack of disposable income amongst the citizenry. I believe that the Cabinet Secretary of the National Treasury is being set up to fail. They should have done a proper consumer cost benefit analysis and come up with an appropriate list of items that should be taxed. I want to go back to what happened in this country on imports. I mentioned this last time. If you look at textiles, safety shoes and spare parts in the market today, you will appreciate that they are of substandard qualities. Therefore, the first question we should ask ourselves is what is happening with the KRA and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS). Anything that is imported into this country must meet certain thresholds on quality, standards and value. Even the KRA have admitted that they are collecting less revenue on imports yet we are expanding our sea port, so that we can import more. It is, therefore, clear that in order for the Government to raise revenue, it should tighten revenue collection at our ports of entry. The items coming into our market should be properly taxed. This country should not be a dumping ground for substandard goods, which appears to be the case today. The KEBS have allowed cheap textile commodities to come into the country. If, as a Kenyan, today, you try to establish a factory to produce cheap commodities like the ones allowed into our market, the KEBS will not allow you to do so. They will be in your office every day to tell you that you have not manufactured products that meet the standards. Talk to any manufacturer who has started to produce anything, he will tell you a similar story. Some people have natural resources like water springs. Such person would want to bottle the water but if he tries to do so, before he does anything, he will find KEBS officials at his doorstep. First of all, they will tell that person that his product has not met any standard. What is happening with our imports? If somebody tries to establish a small- scale industry, like a water bottling plant, he will not be allowed to do so. Leave alone water, in all sectors where we have Kenyans who have started doing small-scale production, be it in manufacturing of textiles or spares or in anything else, they have not been allowed to do so. How come that nothing is being stopped from coming into our market from outside? Hon. Members, if you go to any street in this country, be it Tom Mboya Street, Kenyatta Avenue, Koinange Street or Wabera Street, everything you will see being sold there is substandard. They are supposed to have specific standards. I want to urge hon. Members of the Departmental Committee on Finance, Planning and Trade to---"
}