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{
    "id": 482125,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/482125/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 263,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Dido",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2749,
        "legal_name": "Col (Rtd) Ali Rasso Dido",
        "slug": "col-rtd-ali-rasso-dido"
    },
    "content": ". I think that is really important. Kenyans are the highest taxed citizens. Basically, our tax regime is “kind of” so inflated that on most of the goods that are either produced here or imported, the inflation rate is very high. Sometimes, it makes doing business in Kenya very unattractive for many. Through this Bill, Kenya should attract investors. But there are many things that must be done for us to address the tax regime, so that it is favorable. That way, investors will come and invest in this country. At the same time, we must guard against tax evasion and promote tax compliance. I think the current Director-General of Kenya Revenue Authority has done a good job. He has generally met his targets by addressing the critical issues. The area of tax compensation must be well guarded against. I think economic crimes such as the Goldenberg and Anglo-Leasing came about as a result of frivolous tax compensation where individuals do not really work for their money. They want to make money in the easiest way. The other area in this Bill relates to tax exemption and zero-rated goods. Through Vision 2030, Kenya will be a middle income country. That is the projection. But that has to go hand in hand with industrialization, infrastructure and development. So, for us to be able to meet the pillars of Vision 2030, I think the resource base or the taxation base for this country must be expanded in a big way. I think the Jubilee Government has been able to come up with several funds like the Women Enterprise Development Fund, Uwezo Fund and the Youth Empowerment Fund. I think for us to actualize all those funds and to have many other funds to empower our people to alleviate suffering and the back- breaking poverty, it means our targeting for taxation has to improve in a big way. Recently, I was privileged to visit Morocco and also Canada with the Committee on Defence and Regional Integration. We realized that, basically, on everything you buy or any service which is offered, you pay taxation. But those citizens were really very willing to pay those taxes because they said that the services that they are provided with are worth paying the tax. To this end, I think what we must guard against as Kenyans is to work hard, make money and pay their taxes, only for those taxes to be squandered away through corrupt deals and practices. The real value for money is when an individual The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}