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{
    "id": 988227,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/988227/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 217,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kipkelion East, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Joseph Limo",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1915,
        "legal_name": "Joseph Kirui Limo",
        "slug": "joseph-kirui-limo"
    },
    "content": " I can confirm some issues so that Members can really understand. They do not need to dwell on them for long. We have taken some action to ensure we safeguard both the revenue being raised and the welfare of Kenyans. We have saved Kenyans on essential commodities that are touching on bread, milk and medicaments. There is no increment which will happen on those items because it will cause more problems to Kenyans. The only sector which is still growing despite COVID-19 is general agriculture. Therefore, we have saved fertilisers, all agricultural implements and pesticides from being taxed. They would have gone higher if we had agreed to these proposals. In order to save tourism and the transport sector, we have also saved several proposals from being implemented. We have, as Parliament, been accused in one way or the other that we are not responding to profit loss and, therefore, saving Kenyans. We are aware that several businesses have closed. These include banks, hotels, the transport sector like matatus, which have been parked because of restrictions on movement. The airlines have grounded their aircraft and all that. We know that some Kenyans have taken loans. Therefore, we are proposing several amendments to the Banking Act to protect enforcement of securities which people put in place when taking loans. That is so that banks do not sell properties during the COVID-19 period. We are also suspending listing on Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) so that members who are not able to repay loans during this period are not affected. We will be proposing measures to safeguard employees against being sacked. Therefore, we are proposing that employers do not sack employees at this time. Even if they are not able to pay, they should enter into agreements to have employees go on unpaid leave. I urge this House to really support these amendments, which we will be moving in the afternoon. Finally, because of time, I thank my Committee, the Speaker, the Clerk and the Leader of the Majority Party for their support during this time. My thanks also go to the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and his team for their support during the processing of this Bill. I assure this House that we are aware of the fears you have. We have taken those fears into account to safeguard the interests of the Government in raising revenue and also the interests of Kenyans. With those remarks, I second the Bill."
}