Kenya's MPs ordered to pay higher taxes

[BAK]

Kenya's MPs ordered to pay higher taxes

Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki (R) has a deal with MPs, exempting them from paying higher taxes

Kenya's tax office is demanding that MPs pay tax on their full salary and perks, accusing them of breaching the constitution by failing to do so.
The tax office also said it wanted payments to be back-dated to last August, when Kenya adopted a new constitution.
The arrears come to about $10,000 (£6,100) for each MP.

Kenya's MPs are among the highest paid in Africa, earning a total of about $9,300 a month.
The MPs pay tax on perks worth about $2,000, while the rest of their income is tax-free.

The BBC's Caroline Karobia in the capital, Nairobi, says the MPs have a gentleman's agreement with President Mwai Kibaki, exempting them from paying higher tax during the current parliamentary term.

'Legally compelled' They intend to pay more tax after parliamentary elections next year, when their salaries will also go up, she says.
MPs voted last year to increase their after-tax annual salaries and perks to as high as $126,000 after the 2012 election.

Their decision sparked outrage, with critics accusing them of voting for salaries higher than their counterparts in the UK.

The MPs said they deserved higher salaries because they were over-worked, and were responsible for major decisions about the nation's economic and political well-being.

Our reporter says many Kenyans are waiting to see how MPs will now respond to the letter sent to them by the Kenya Revenue Authority, which are argues that the parliamentarians are legally compelled to pay tax on their total income.

The letter was sent after MPs ignored a recent plea by Kenya's tax chief, Michael Waweru, that higher taxes would boost the government's income, making more money available for poverty-alleviation programmes.

The average annual income in Kenya is about $730, while most of the population earns less than $1 a day.

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Tazama hii video ya hawa wabunge wa Kenya...utakoma!....full burudani!

​

 

[Dena Amsi]

Ha ha watalipa na mikopo kwa sana watajibeba

 

[Mshume Kiyate]

Wabunge wetu wote wasanii awapo kwa ajili ya wananchi, wapo kivyama zaidi

 

[Nyaralego]

Goody!!! Let them pay taxes like every citizen. No exceptions. Good move.

 

[sulphadoxine]

Mamlaka ya ushuru nchini Kenya (KRA) imeagiza kuwa wabunge wote walipe kodi kulingana na katiba mpya nchini humo.

Wabunge wanasema hawawezi kulipa kiasi hicho cha pesa


Mamlaka hiyo imewataka wabunge hao walipe malimbikizi ya kodi hiyo kutoka mwezi Agosti mwaka jana, wakati katiba mpya nchini humo ilipoidhinishwa.

Kulingana na makadirio ya KRA, kila mbunge anatakiwa kila dola 10,000 kutoka mshahara wake.

Takwimu zilizopo zinaonyesha kuwa wabunge nchini Kenya wapo kwenye orodha wa wawakilishi wanaolipwa mishahara mikubwa zaidi barani Afrika.

Agizo hilo la mamlaka ya ushuru hata hivyo limepingwa vikali na baadhi ya wabunge wanaosema kuwa huenda wakashindwa kumudu maisha kufuatia hatua hiyo wasiokuwa wakiitarajia.

Akizungumza na BBC, Waziri wa Maji ambaye pia ni mbunge wa eneo la Kitui, Bi Charity Ngilu amesema kuwa kulipa pesa hizo itakuwa kibarua kigumu sana.

"Tulipoingia bunge tulielezewa pesa ambazo tutalipwa katika kipindi cha miaka mitano kisha wengi wakachukua mikopo, sasa kuja sasa hivi na kutuambia tulipe, itakuwa vigumu sana kwa kuwa hatuna biashara" alisema Bi Ngilu.

Wabunge wengi walitegemea kuwa agizo hilo kuwa walipe kodi litaanza kutekelezwa baada ya uchaguzi ujao mwakani.
Kwa sasa wanamakubaliano na Rais Kibaki kuwa wasilipe kodi hiyo lakini hakuna muafaka ikiwa hali itakuwa hivyo.

Mwaka jana wabunge waliongeza mishahara yao hadi dola 126,000.

Uamuzi huo ulikemewa vikali na raia nchini humo ambao wengi wanakipato cha chini ya dola moja kwa siku.

 

[sulphadoxine]

Idara ya forodha nchini Kenya inawataka wabunge wawe wakilipa kodi za mishahara yao kikamilifu, ikiwalaumu kuwa wamekiuka katiba kwa kukosa kulipa. Idara hiyo pia inataka wabunge walipe kodi za tangu mwezi Agosti mwaka 2010 wakati katiba mpya ya nchi ilipozinduliwa. Wabunge wa Kenya ni miongoni mwa wabunge wanaopokea mishahara mikubwa zaidi duniani, kila mmoja akipokea $ 9,300 kwa mwezi .Mwandishi wa BBC Peter Musembi amefanya mahojiano na Spika wa bunge la Kenya Kenneth Marende kuhusu ikiwa wabunge wana misingi yoyote ya kukataa kutii agizo hilo.

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Uhuru weighs in on MPs' tax row
​

​

Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta has broken his silence on the thorny issue of paying taxes by MPs saying no one is exempt June 30, 2011.
​

Posted Thursday, June 30 2011 at 11:13

Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta has broken his silence on the thorny issue of paying taxes by Kenyan MPs saying no one is exempt.

Mr Kenyatta, however, dismissed those critical of MPs who have expressed concern over the obligation to remit tax arrears to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).

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.

He added that even MPs are required to comply with the new law adding that it adds no value for individuals to call press conference and issue statements that they were remitting their taxes and urging others to do the same.

"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," said Mr Kenyatta in a statement posted on his Facebook page.

"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."

He, however, did not expressly indicate whether he had settled his arrears with the taxman but dwelt on paying taxes in principle.

In what appears to be a direct criticism to other politicians including Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Gachoka MP Mutava Musyimi, Mr Kenyatta added that millions of Kenyans 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. The Constitution is also very clear on the taxation requirements that have been placed on all citizens including myself," said the minister.

Mr Kenyatta added that the consequences of non-compliance are well stipulated within the laws and Kenyans who haven't fulfilled these obligations will be exposed. He also said that in as much as the tax payment 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.

"Payment of taxes and indeed the fulfillment of several other obligations under this new constitution should not degenerate into a political competition but should be regarded as a moral and civic duty of all Kenyans," said Mr Kenyatta.

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Raila Odinga hakusubiri maana aliona heri akae mkao mmoja na wananchi...

Prime Minister Raila Odinga (left) queues at Kenya Revenue Authority headquarters, Nairobi on June 27, 2011 to pay his tax arrears. He paid Sh3.4milion in outstanding tax as he called on other Members of Parliament to follow suit

​

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka follows suit...

Kalonzo hands over Sh4m tax cheque
​

​

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.
​