Entry Instance

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

{
    "id": 576029,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/576029/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 167,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Ms.) Wahome",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1700,
        "legal_name": "Alice Muthoni Wahome",
        "slug": "alice-muthoni-wahome"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for the opportunity to add my voice in support of this Bill. I would want to say that the Special Economic Zones Bill 2015 is timely, particularly given the fact that the country is in the mood of encouraging an investment and entrepreneurship spirit. We have just concluded the Global Economic Summit where great ideas from Kenyans and other investors, led by the US President Barrack Obama and our President, His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, encouraged investment in this country and creation of new businesses. We particularly have to look at the youth and women who, indeed, have previously been neglected or ignored notwithstanding the fact that most of them are now coming up with very good ideas. Looking at the objects in this Bill in Clause 3, an enabling environment is possibly one of the critical things that we need for encouraging both local and foreign investors. Previously, the country was not focusing on how our people, including those who come to invest here, can establish businesses without trade barriers and impediments such as corruption and small kickbacks. This is an area that we can zone and bring have in it fast development. I am looking at the fact that the objects clearly show there will be incentives for new businesses. I have gone through the Bill and I would want to see a special provision that says how the youth, women and persons with disabilities will be identified in relation to these geographical areas where the businesses will be. We cannot assume that the youth, women and persons with disabilities will be able to play in the same league with large business entrepreneurs and investors. It is, therefore, important that the youth, women and persons with disabilities are catered for specifically by provisions. I will be bringing an amendment at the Committee of the whole House Stage that will specifically go into that area, so that we do not leave anything to chance. This is considering that the youth and women are going to be assisted by the new funds that were created during the Global Economic Summit. We have various funds for the youth, but the environment and training skills need to improve. We need to move very quickly as a country, particularly in the area of technical training, so that as we come up with these zones we shall have the relevant skills to be able to input into these zones. Under Clause 35 a waiver is proposed. I just want to quickly refer to it. There will be a waiver of various taxes like Excise Tax, Income Tax, East African Community taxes, and Value Added Tax. I am not happy with Sub-clause (2) where we say that stamp duty on the execution of instrument related to the businesses--- This creates room for abuse. I say this because I know this country earns a lot of money from stamp duty, particularly from purchase of immovable properties. If we go further and waive stamp duty--- Unless it is stamp duty in the specific area where the zone is, one can always say that the property one is purchasing is in connection with the business in that zone. That has room for abuse and I would not want to encourage waiver of some duty even as we want to create an environment that is facilitative. We must still know that we must have revenue for purposes of development and also capital for the country."
}