Kalonzo pays over Sh4m tax as Uhuru speaks on MPs' tax row

Written By:VPPS/KBC,    Posted: Thu, Jun 30, 2011

VP Kalonzo Musyoka presents his cheque to Mr. Michael Waweru the Commissioner General Kenya Revenue Authority. Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has joined the list of tax-abiding Members of Parliament when he presented his cheque for Ksh. 4,423,000 to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA),   the amount required from him by KRA as taxation from his salaries arrears. Mr. Musyoka said he was pleased to fulfill his obligation as a citizen of Kenya in accordance with the requirements of the new constitution. "I am now fully tax-compliant and happy", he added. The Vice Presidents made the remarks at KRA headquarters Thursday, Nairobi when he presented the four cheques to the Commissioner-General, Mr. Michael Waweru. At the same time, Mr. Musyoka urged Kenyans to pay taxes, saying taxes constitute the revenue that the government requires to provide public services and develop the physical infrastructure in order to realize Vision 2030 goals and improve the conditions of living of Kenyans. He thanked the media for highlighting those evading paying tax and urged them to pressurize all Kenyans to be tax compliant as part of the implementation of  the new Constitution. Mr. Waweru said that many legislators have already paid their taxes, noting that it was a statutory duty to pay tax. "All Kenyans must abide by the law", he added. The Commissioner-General added that the Judiciary will start paying their tax from July first. Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Uhuru Kenyatta has hit out at leaders whom he accuses of politicising the constitutional requirement for all Kenyans including MPs to pay taxes. In a statement Thursday, Kenyatta said the new Constitution had caught the lawmakers' mid-stream. "It is also clear that our new constitution has caught us mid-stream and we have to go through a transitional process. This applies as much to Members of Parliament as it does to the rest of Kenyans. It is morally wrong for those who have the ability to comply to make a public spectacle and paint negatively other Members of Parliament who may be willing to comply but are unable to immediately do so in a lumpsum payment. (Tax arrears are estimated at 2Million)." The deputy Prime Minister said the payment of taxes was a constitutional, moral and developmental issue that goes beyond any individual's personal position and urged Kenyans not to politicise the issue. "Tax Compliance is a constitutional, moral and developmental issue that goes beyond any one individual's personal position, notwithstanding the fact that some may want to make a public declaration of their paying. Millions of Kenyans from all walks of life quietly pay their taxes regularly and are compliant as it is an obligation for all Kenyans to do so. There is nothing special about any one category of Kenyans fulfilling their civic duties under the law." Kenyatta said the constitution is also very clear on the taxation requirements that have been placed on all citizens including himself. "The consequences of non-compliance are equally well stipulated within our laws. Ultimately, if there are Kenyans who haven't fulfilled these obligations, it will come to light. However, in as much as this debate is healthy for the country, it should not be conducted on the basis of who has or hasn't paid but rather on the principle of the matter itself." Other leaders who have so far cleared their arrears include Assistant Minister Margaret Wanjiru and MPs Gideon Mbuvi (Makadara) and Mutava Musyimi (Gachoka). They joined Peter Kenneth (Gatanga) and Kangundo's Johnson Muthama who have been remitting their taxes since 2008.