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{
    "id": 947389,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/947389/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 170,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Malalah",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13195,
        "legal_name": "Cleophas Wakhungu Malalah",
        "slug": "cleophas-wakhungu-malalah-2"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. I rise pursuant to Standing order No. 47(1) to make a Statement on an issue of national concern regarding the rampant closure of businesses and laying off of employees in the country. In the recent past, Kenyans have witnessed the closure of businesses mostly occasioned by unfavorable business environment in the country and the inability of these businesses to sustain themselves. Taxation is one crucial element among the factors of production of any legal business in this country. It informs corporate decisions and emboldens commercial plans for any businessman in our economy. It is, therefore, important as a country that we demystify and simplify our tax regime for consistency of policy and attraction of more investment in our country. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the closures are definitely resulting in massive losses of employment to thousands of Kenyans who in most cases are the sole breadwinners in their families. It is worth noting that all this is happening against a backdrop of a Government’s manifesto of creating one million jobs annually. The closure of a business has several negative ramifications, especially to our economy. The national Government and the county governments will lose out on the much needed taxes that run our economy. If you analyze this visa-a-vis the shrinking national and county revenue collections, we are glaring into difficult budgetary and financial times as a country. It will reach a time when the Government will be struggling to finance the free basic education, free maternal healthcare and will not be in a position to fully roll out the universal health coverage. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, picture that parent who has been laid off or asked not to report to work indefinitely. He or she will not be able to pay fees for their daughter or The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}