Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 467141,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/467141/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 331,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Okoth",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 12482,
        "legal_name": "Kenneth Odhiambo Okoth",
        "slug": "kenneth-odhiambo-okoth"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. My concern here is that the VAT Bill which we passed here is having effects beyond what we imagined on basic goods and supplies. But I want to focus especially on matters that affect our young people and our children’s future. I have said it on this Floor before and I will say it again that the education of our children is not an expense. It is an investment if this country is to afford Vision 2030 and succeed in reaching it. We really need to look at this VAT Act and amend it to exempt educational materials and educational supplies, from the basics such as pencils, exercise books, text books and even as we go into bringing our education into a technological age, computer supplies that are very important. I do not see why this VAT Bill exempts billionaires who can afford helicopters from paying taxes on their helicopters. But for young people in Kibra who want to start a computer lab or a cyber café, they cannot be exempted from buying the computers to start their business. So, these are the kind of amendments we want to push through and I hope that we will unite as one House and as patriotic Kenyan leaders to relook at the VAT Act and make sure that basic supplies and, in particular, educational supplies that are important for the building of our next generation are not taxed and are exempted. They should be cheap and available for everybody to create an equitable field. With those few remarks, I beg to support the amendments and this important issue. Thank you. Tutaleta amendments. Tusiogope."
}