State should not rush to reinstate the old taxes
December will be the last month Kenyans enjoy the Covid-19 tax reliefs.
Taxation • The government should not rush to reinstate the old taxes, as the economy is “not yet out of the doldrums”, university don X. N. Iraki pleads. If the tax reliefs are delayed for a year, the business guru explains, “the low taxes will act as an economic stimulus. Lower taxes will make Kenyans happier and they will consume more, leading to higher tax revenues”. His contact is [email protected].
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Priorities • Treasury CS Ukur Yatani, S.K. Chege notes, is challenging fellow Kenyans to brace yourselves for tough economic times, while the same government plans to splash out billions on the BBI referendum amid the Covid-19 pandemic. “Let the CS stop laughing at Kenyans. Let him realise that the referendum is not a priority. It can wait until 2022.” His contact is [email protected].
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No power • Three months since Nairobi resident Sagar Jhankharia complained about weekly power outages, the problem persists. “Kenya Power contacted us, promising to solve the problem but did not. We’re fed up as we pay bills and remain in darkness. Muthurwa substation engineers have given us false promises for a year.” His account is No. 1965300 and his contact, [email protected].
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Plant trees • A word of kudos arrives from Francis Awiti for the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) for keeping roads safe and conserving the environment. This, he adds, is evident in the initiative to plant trees along the Eldoret-Kitale highway. However, most of them have withered. “It’s not too late to beautify our roads again.” His contact is [email protected].
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Police bribes • Every night at 9pm, the official Land Rover for the police station in his neighbourhood in Nairobi, Jimmy Thumbi reports, goes around all the bars collecting Sh100 in bribes. Jimmy wants to know from the National Police Service bosses whether they are aware of this or have sanctioned it. “Those who fail to pay risk being raided.” For details, his contact is [email protected].
Have an accountable day, won’t you!
