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{
    "id": 469187,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/469187/?format=api",
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    "content": "Order, hon. Senators, let me now proceed. Hon. Senators, pursuant to Standing Order No.222(2)(b), I hereby report to the Senate that a petition on the enactment of the Licensing Act, 2013 has been submitted by a Mr. Humphreys Khaunya through the Office of the Clerk. Mr. Khaunya, the petitioner, is a citizen of Kenya and a resident of Busia County who works as a small scale business entrepreneur. In his Petition, he draws the attention of the Senate to the powers of county governments to collect and charge taxes. He argues that the parameters of these powers are not set out in law. He is, therefore, of the view that there is a possibility that Kenyans will be required to pay more for licences and fees in some counties as opposed to others and that there will be discrimination on the basis of ethnicity. To ensure that Kenyans are not marginalized, overcharged or treated inequitably as they seek to invest in various counties, he proposes the enactment of an Act of Parliament to harmonise licensing operations throughout the Republic of Kenya which would minimize disparity in licenses and fees charged as between the national Government and county governments and as between the county governments. He includes a draft “County Governments Licensing Bill, 2013”. The objects and purposes of the proposed Bill as stated in the Petition include:- (a) promoting investments in rural areas; (b) harmonizing the license fees and all other charges in Kenya so as to avoid disparity in the course of doing business from county to county; (c) curbing possible corruption in the country governments; (d) promoting equal investment opportunities for all Kenyans in all counties; and, (e) improving county service delivery, transparency and accountability in revenue collection by county governments. The Petition is signed by the Petitioner, Mr. Humphreys Khaunya. Hon. Senators, pursuant to Standing Order No.223, I shall now allow comments, observations or clarifications in relation to the Petition, for not more than 30 minutes. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}