Mag3
Platinum Member
- May 31, 2008
- 13,064
- 22,757
President Kibaki and Vice- President Kalonzo Musyoka of Kenya have bowed to public pressure and paid up their tax arrears, further isolating Members of Parliament resisting the constitutional obligation.
Article 210(3) states that no law may exclude or authorise the exclusion of a State officer from payment of tax by reason of the office held by that State officer or the nature of the work of the State officer.
Going by the fact President Kibaki raked in about Sh20 million for the past ten months and considering his basic salary and allowances total about Sh2 million per month, his tax arrears stood at Sh6 million.
The decision by three leading political leaders, including Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who settled his arrears last week, to respect the Constitution that demands the tax burden should be shared by all Kenyans, has put MPs opposed to paying taxes in a lonely corner.
"Payment of taxes is a constitutional, moral and developmental issue that goes beyond any individuals personal position notwithstanding the fact that some politicians have opted to make it a public declaration of their paying", said the Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta.
The consequences of non-compliance are equally well stipulated within our laws. Ultimately, if there are Kenyans who have not fulfilled these obligations, it would come to light, he stated.
Hapa kwetu wanaochanja mbuga ni wale walafi tu wanaojipangia posho kwa nguvu, kasi na ari zaidi lakini bila kodi wakiwaacha kwenye mataa wananchi walio wengi. Utamtozaje Kikwete kodi huku hata kipato chake hakijulikani !