Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka presents a cheque of Sh4,423,000 to the Commissioner General, Kenya Revenue Authority Michael Waweru at the KRA offices June 30, 2011. VPPS.
By PETER NGETICH
Posted Thursday, June 30 2011 at 14:38
Posted Thursday, June 30 2011 at 14:38
Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka has paid his tax arrears amounting to Sh4 million to join a growing list of MPs complying with the taxman's directive.
Mr Musyoka walked into Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Times Towers offices at 12.55pm Thursday and paid Sh4,423,000 million after handing out four bankers cheques.
He said in Kiswahili “mumetusukuma” (you have really pushed us) as he was received at KRA boardroom by Commissioner Michael Waweru and Commissioner of Domestic Taxes John Njiraini.
Addressing the press, Mr Musyoka said he was happy that he was tax compliant.
“I am pleased to fulfill this obligation as a citizen of this country in accordance with the requirements of our new Constitution. I am now tax compliant and happy,” Mr Musyoka said.
The VP who had earlier walked from his Jogoo House office to Times Towers urged all Kenyans to pay their taxes.
“These taxes constitute the revenue that the government requires to provide public services and develop the physical infrastructure we need in order to realise vision 2030,” he said.
He called on the media to urge presidential candidates to declare their wealth before next year's General Election.
“As you can remember, I was the first person to declare his wealth during the last general election willingly,” Mr Musyoka said.
Previous reports put Mr Musyoka and House Speaker Kenneth Marende at par, owing the taxman Sh5.1 million each. But the VP had dismissed the figure as a speculation.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga and MP Mutava Musyimi on Monday remitted a combined Sh5.4 million to the Authority in tax arrears as pressure mounted on MPs to pay taxes in the spirit of the Constitution.
Last week, Mr Njiraini warned that KRA would auction property of MPs and other top government officials if they don’t pay their taxes.
But in MPs defence, Mr Musyoka said such a move would be counterproductive.
“It is not proper for the taxman to punish or impose penalties by attaching assets of MPs," he said.
On Thursday, Mr Musyoka added that to improve the living conditions of Kenyans, President Kibaki had also paid his taxes.
He said the President was the first person to pay but the issue was not publicised.
“As his deputy, I mean it, he did it sometime last week,” The VP said.
He declined to say how much the Head of State had reportedly paid as well as Mr Waweru who said the KRA Act does not allow one to reveal such information unless he gives consent.
“We are not allowed to divulge such information unless somebody has done that himself,” Mr Waweru said.
He said a number of MPs had also paid their taxes but declined to reveal the figure.
“Very many MPs have paid but they are not doing so due to pressure,” Mr Waweru said.
The KRA commissioner said judges will start paying their taxes as from July 1.
The KRA commissioner said judges will start paying their taxes as from July 1.
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