{"count":1608389,"next":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/?format=json&page=148084","previous":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/?format=json&page=148082","results":[{"id":1499022,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1499022/?format=json","text_counter":616,"type":"scene","speaker_name":"","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"(Question proposed)"},{"id":1499023,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1499023/?format=json","text_counter":617,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Hon. Deputy Speaker","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"Hon. Rindikiri"},{"id":1499024,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1499024/?format=json","text_counter":618,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Buuri, UDA","speaker_title":"Hon. Mugambi Rindikiri","speaker":null,"content":" Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker. This Bill, short as it is, is addressing a very important function and responsibility of KRA in terms of the development of a curriculum in consultation with other institutions. I agree with the function in the proposed new sub-section (2B)(a) on offering programmes in revenue administration directly, or in collaboration with any other institution of higher learning. The question of developing a curriculum is already addressed from that perspective. Therefore, the issue of accreditation that Hon. Oundo has spoken about is addressed by the new sub-section. I agree that this Bill needs to be amended further because we cannot have a commissioner-general who has the power to appoint his deputy. That is a very high position. This responsibility needs to be vested in the Board. I, therefore, ask that we make a further amendment on that and vest that responsibility in the Board. I am of the view that we define the term ‘agent’ in the Bill. We need to be very clear on which agent we are talking about. Is it an individual or an institution that is collecting revenue on behalf of KRA? That is not defined properly. Secondly, which system fails? Is it the system of the agent or that of KRA? If, for example, the agent is a bank, we need to be very careful and say whether it is the KRA system that has failed and is not accepting transfers or it is the system of the agent that is not able to transmit information to KRA. Those clarifications need to be taken into account. If those amendments are done, then we can proceed to approve the Bill. As the Bill is, I have reservations on it. Thank you."},{"id":1499025,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1499025/?format=json","text_counter":619,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Hon. Deputy Speaker","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"Hon. Robert Mbui."},{"id":1499026,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1499026/?format=json","text_counter":620,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Kathiani, WDM","speaker_title":"Hon. Robert Mbui","speaker":null,"content":" Thank you, Hon. Deputy Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to also add my voice to this Bill. KRA is Kenya’s tax collector. We must be very careful as a House any time we are dealing with matters taxation, even when it seems it is an easy thing. It cannot be easy, because whenever we are dealing with KRA, we are dealing with its power to collect or waive taxes. It is something that we have to take seriously. Hon. Deputy Speaker, I rise to oppose this Bill in totality - every single clause of the Bill. There is a proposal to give Kenya School of Revenue Administration powers to collaborate with institutions of higher learning. This will enable them to give certifications that are provided there. From the inception, what was the purpose of that institution? Was it supposed to offer degrees, diplomas, master's degrees and doctorates? Probably, that was not the reason. We spent a lot of time with the Cabinet Secretary for Education this afternoon. One of the problems we talked about is the stress in our public universities. We are creating competition"},{"id":1499027,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1499027/?format=json","text_counter":621,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Kathiani, WDM","speaker_title":"Hon. Robert Mbui","speaker":null,"content":"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."},{"id":1499028,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1499028/?format=json","text_counter":622,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Kathiani, WDM","speaker_title":"Hon. Robert Mbui","speaker":null,"content":"for them by allowing every institution to offer the same courses that they offer. On this score, I oppose this Bill. This is not the right thing to do. The Bill proposes to give powers to the Commissioner-General to appoint Deputy Commissioners. Even if they went to the same institution that they have there, it taught them very basic rules on public or corporate management or governance. It is only the Board that can appoint the people who work under the person who runs any department. You cannot run a department and then you recruit all the people who work under you. There has to be a body that is mandated to recruit. The Government of Kenya has a Ministry that deals with recruitment. The Parliament of Kenya has the Parliamentary Service Commission that deals with recruitment. You cannot run an office and then you give yourself the power to appoint the people who work under you. That should be vested with the Board. On this score, I oppose the Bill. There is also a proposal in the Bill to give powers to the Cabinet Secretary to waive penalties. I have listened to the explanation that has been given by the Deputy Leader of the Majority Party. That work can be done by the commissioners in Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). He said that the Cabinet Secretary can give a waiver because there may be some downtime and the agent cannot do certain things on time. That is an explanation that the commissioners can understand. It is making it seem like rocket science. That is basic common sense. If the systems fail, no one can make a payment. They cannot be punished. The person who can listen to that is a junior officer, but not a commissioner. On this proposed amendment, I believe that this Bill fails the test of time. I oppose this Bill. If you listened to the speakers before me, including the Mover and Seconder, they are quietly and in a veiled way opposing it. I request the Deputy Leader of the Majority Party to withdraw this Bill, so that we can do some serious business in the House. I submit, Hon. Deputy Speaker."},{"id":1499029,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1499029/?format=json","text_counter":623,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Hon. Deputy Speaker","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"There are no more interventions. We can go to the next Order. I will not put the Question because we shall continue with the debate. Hon. Dorothy Ikiara, do you want to speak on this Bill?"},{"id":1499030,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1499030/?format=json","text_counter":624,"type":"speech","speaker_name":"Nominated, UDA","speaker_title":"Hon. Dorothy Muthoni","speaker":null,"content":" Hon. Deputy Speaker, I am interested in the next Order, which is the Coffee Bill, (Senate Bill No. 10 of 2023)."},{"id":1499031,"url":"http://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1499031/?format=json","text_counter":625,"type":"scene","speaker_name":"","speaker_title":"","speaker":null,"content":"(Putting of the Question deferred)"}]}