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{
    "id": 845549,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/845549/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 352,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Suba South, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. John Mbadi",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 110,
        "legal_name": "John Mbadi Ng'ong'o",
        "slug": "john-mbadi"
    },
    "content": " Hon. Temporary Deputy Chairman, just as Hon. Wanga has put it, this is a very important amendment. I just want to correct Hon. Junet that this law was actually passed in 2013 and it has been postponed twice. The most critical thing is to note that it is the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that is forcing us into this. It should be understood, with regard to the steps the Government is taking to encourage other sources of revenue raising. We cannot rob the poor to fund our budget. Even as we postpone this tax for a further two years, this House must decide to either do away with VAT on petroleum products or not. That is because we are not going to continue postponing it indefinitely. I want to urge this House to postpone this tax for a further two years as we decide on what to do with it. Before I sit down, I want this House to note that prices of commodities are likely to rise by not less than 10 per cent. This is a fact that is supported by statistics from the Treasury itself. If you impose this tax on petroleum products, the prices of commodities will increase by not less than 10 per cent. Even the transportation cost will increase by 20 per cent. You know how Kenyans behave when taxes are increased. Employment is also going to be hit. So, this is an amendment that this House should unanimously agree to pass. Thank you. I support."
}