Sunday, July 3, 2011

MPs accuse Principals of dishonesty over taxes

Written By:KBC reporters/KNA,    Posted: Sun, Jul 03, 2011

Marende said he had received letters exempting sitting MPs from pay tax
House Speaker Kenneth Marende insists that a deal reached with MPs over paying tax on their perks still stands.
Marende said he had received three letters from the Attorney General , Kenya Revenue Authority and Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta in the runner up to the last constitutional referendum to the effect that sitting MPs would be exempted from paying taxes once the new constitution is passed.
He said he was yet to receive further communication from the legislators adding that he will make his ruling on the issue once members present it on the floor of the House.
The Speaker was speaking on Sunday during the Kenya National Assembly (KNA) Breakfast Prayer outreach hosted at Ol-Kalou's St. Peters ACK Church in Nyandarua. 
Assistant ministers Joseph Nkaisery, Gedion Ndambuki, and Margaret Kamar attended the meeting.
Others are MPs Erastus Mureithi (Ol-Kalou), Jeremiah Kioni (Ndaragwa) and  Ekwe Ethuro (Turkana South).
He accused members of issuing unsubstantiated statements in public forums and through the media saying they should respect the House and lodge their complaints to the relevant office.
Marende, spoke as several MPs opposed to paying taxes accused the two Principals of hoodwinking them into supporting the new constitution during referendum campaigns last year.
Misleading
Assistant Ministers Mwangi Kiunjuri (Public Works) and Mr Nderitu Mureithi (Industrialisation) and Kiambaa's MP Stanley Githunguri now want President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to apologize to MPs for what they termed as 'misleading them into supporting' the new law.
Speaking at the weekend at Njonjo girl's secondary school in Nyahururu during celebrations to mark 30 years since its inception, the legislators claimed that the issue of taxation of their allowances was even put on paper assuring them that their perks would not be touched in the current term in return for their support of the new constitution.
Mr Kiunjuri termed the pledge by the two Principals as dishonesty.
Former Attorney General Charles Njonjo who was the chief guest however insisted that everyone should pay taxes to the government and that MPs were no exception.
Criticising those opposed to paying tax, Njonjo said it is unfortunate the same leaders who have been in the front line calling for speedy law implementation, are now out to sabotage the same by refusing to obey part of it.
"Everybody should pay taxes, whether you a cardinal, a bishop or a priest. I also do and I was shocked to see National Assembly Speaker Mr Kenneth Marende vehemently oppose the move to tax parliamentarians." Njonjo said.
The leaders however, called on legislators to keep politics off tax payment saying some of them have taken advantage of the debate to advance their interests ahead of the next General Election.
Last week, Raila and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka lined up to pay their tax arrears at KRA offices . A number of MPs have also paid their taxes

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