When Minister for Finance, Hon. Kimunya, read the 2008/9 budget, the devil indeed lay in the reaction to the details. The budget that was initially described as “people-friendly “? and “food for growth “? turned into a short-lived political tranquilizer after it failed to halt the unchecked increase in food prices. However, even as our people are reduced to eating rats and carcasses of wild animals to fend off hunger, the debate on high food prices seems to have taken a backseat and our preoccupation is the question of whether Members of Parliament should join the taxpayers army. For sure, as expected of our lawmakers, they are not taking this perceived attack on their obscene pay perks without kicking up a storm of a protest. That leads us to ask, what is the purpose of tax?
According to Wikipedia, tax is a pecuniary burden laid upon individuals or property to support the government. It is not a voluntary payment or donation, but an enforced contribution. The purpose of tax is for government to raise money to build schools, roads and hospitals and for indirect functions like justice and redistribution of wealth from the richer to the poorer, thereby checking inequalities.
At a time when our country is experiencing inflation estimated at 31 percent, it is important to note that taxation is used for countering inflationary pressures on the economy and better still, Kenya Revenue Authority tells us that kulipa ushuru ni kujitegemea. Considering our Members of Parliament ferocious resistance to taxation, one asks, are our lawmakers against building of roads; against redistribution of wealth; against a just society; against checking inflation and, worst of all, against our country’s independence? Why should a parliamentarian with total income of KES 877,000 expect a worker who earns a paltry KES 12,000 to foot the bills of constructing roads on which they drive their fuel guzzlers, for the garbage collection in their posh estates, for building hospitals which they quickly claim and brand as their own projects in campaign speeches?
The abovementioned facts are admissible evidence that our legislators’ protest against taxation is nothing less than disloyalty and betrayal of our country, tantamount to treason! Therefore, the following: Peter Keneth – – Gatanga, MP; George Nyamweya- Nominated MP; Boni Khalwale- Ikolomani, MP; Danson Mungatana- Garsen, MP; Soita Shitanda- Malava, MP; Ali Hassan Joho- Hamisi, MP; Charles Keter- Belgut, MP; David Koech-; Fred Kapondi- Mt. Elgon, MP; Charles Kilonzo-Yatta, MP; Sammy Mwaita- Baringo Central, MP; Ephraim Maina-Mathira, MP and others not listed but equally guilty must immediately be charged for treason!
Between 1763-1776, Americans used “no taxation without representation” as a slogan to summarize their grievances against British rule. Today, we must paraphrase that slogan and say to our parliamentarians “no representation without taxation “; for representation without taxation is tyranny!
George Nyongesa
Bunge la Mwananchi
www.bulamwa.co.ke
+254 720 451 235
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Date: Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:10:56 -0700 (PDT)
From: George Nyongesa
Subject: MPs’ tax resistance an act of treason!
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Tell me who among those MPS are real revolutionists who would dare miss a meal for the shake of the people of Kenya
Tell me who among them would miss a wink of sleep because his constituents luck a lunch meal. If you ask me I will tell you who we have. We have poor people who went into politics as away of becoming wealthy. We have people who got to where they are because they were good at throwing stones or loud mouthed or good at crooking their way. We have hooligans who have physically assaulted many without course. We have people who have robbed meek villagers of their land.
Ladies and gentlemen in the above statement, I have described many but not all. If you would like I could mention names.
Jakoyo Midiwo was on record fighting funny musicians over funny women. Otieno Kajwang has a case of fraud that that is still pending in court and will never be solved. Saitoti became famous because of goldenberg, Kiraitu has not been prosecuted for Anglo leasing. Ruto, Jirongo and nyamweya printed fake money during the youth for Kanu era. Just who did Kenya expected to forgo their tax for the common man is unimaginable. How do we expect someone to steal from you and then hand it back to you. Except for revolutionist like Raila Odinga, James Aggrey Orengo, Prof Anyang Nyongo, Koigi Wamwere (not an MP now), Charity Ngilu. Kenyans seem to love choosing these crooks.
I am really believing God for the day when the people of Kenya will choose to elect men of integrity like Raila Odinga and that that man of integrity will choose men of integrity to champion change.
Barack
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Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2008 07:24:56 +0000
From: barack abonyo
Subject: WE ELECTED THIEVES