National Assembly Budget Committee chairperson Ndindi Nyoro has urged the Kenya Revenue Authority and other government agencies to engage the public before introducing new taxes.
Speaking during a church service on Sunday, the Kiharu Member of Parliament said that the heavy taxation is becoming unbearable for many Kenyans who are grappling with a struggling economy.
Citing an example of the increased import duties, Nyoro said that they will continue to hurt Kenyan businesses which contradicts the government’s commitment to promote Kenyan businesses and enterprises.
“As you do changes and especially increasing duty like the one we did recently it is important to do public participation. You call stakeholders and engage them,” he said.
“I ask the chair of domestic taxes in Kenya the increment of duty from Ksh.2 million to Ksh.3 million…first hold it and hold a meeting with business people.”
MP Nyoro further argued that with the increased duty, traders imported goods with collapsing dollar rates and will now be forced to pass over the cost to the consumers or suffer huge losses.
Public participation has been a long-neglected element while the government makes taxation increments.
It was at the centre of the debacle on the implementation of the Housing Bill which introduced unsavory taxes to Kenyans.
The High Court had also questioned the government why the public was not involved before making the changes into law.
