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{
    "id": 467174,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/467174/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 364,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Langat",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 384,
        "legal_name": "Benjamin Kipkirui Langat",
        "slug": "benjamin-langat"
    },
    "content": "Thank you very much, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. First and foremost, I want to thank my friend for raising this matter. Indeed, this country is faced with a very serious challenge, but many people are associating this problem with the VAT. The process of amending the VAT Act started way back in 2009. In 2010, the original Bill that came to this House was passed by the Cabinet. That Bill was very bad and I thought that the Members would have appreciated my Committee for the efforts we made to exempt unga, bread and rice from VAT. I have a list which shows what the original Bill provided for. All those things could have been taxable if the original Bill was passed. I want the Members to remember very well that we even had an amendment to include medical items and we agreed in this House. I agree that the issue of VAT is important, but I want the Members to look at the bigger picture. Hon. Wamalwa has said that the price of bread increased from Kshs40 to Kshs70. That is a Kshs30 increase. If you work out that price, it is not 16 per cent. That is 50 per cent more. The issue is that some people have taken advantage of the situation. That is why the Kenya Revenue Authority is going an extra mile to ensure that those who have taken advantage of the situation are brought to book and taken to court. In another two days, we expect people to appear in court. This issue of going to address the media and we passed the Bill together in this House is dishonest. Dishonesty must stop in this House. We agreed in this House. I remember hon. Gladys saying that: “If we have brought in sanitary towels, I support the Bill”. Those are her words. It is unfortunate that she can now come back and start saying that she wants us to amend the Bill. It is also not right to mislead Kenyans according to our rules."
}