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.
The above mentioned 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! (By George Nyongesa - Bunge La Mwananchi)
The MARS GROUP have published an article showing that there is a lot more at stake than the just the MPs getting away without paying taxes. The Financial Budget this year has taken public theft one step further with budget lines such as 2 BILLION for HOSPITALITY!
Click HERE to read the full article.
Click HERE to find the contacts of your MP and ask him to wake up!
Click HERE to sign the petition demanding MPs to reduce their salaries and give back land to the people!!
After post-election violence, Kenyans are anxiously seeking peace and reconciliation, truth and justice, relief and rebuilding. As the 10th Parliament of Kenya begins to address these crucial issues, Kenyan and concerned global citizens have a message for Kenyan MPs: Reduce your drastic salaries and return land you acquired illegally.
The government of Kenya is chiefly responsible for the relief and reconstruction of the country. The funding of these efforts are hampered, however, due to the fact that Kenyan MPs receive one of the highest representative salaries in the world. Therefore, Kenyan citizens, who are the employers of their MPs, demand that Kenyan MPs reduce their drastic salaries and pay their own fair share to help rebuild the country.
Kenyan MPs are also holders of large amounts of land and assets, much of which has been documented in detail as being acquired illegally. Therefore, in order to proceed with justice and reconciliation, MPs must return any and all land and assets they have acquired illegally.
Please sign this petition with the attached letter to Kenyan MPs, urging them to reduce their outlandish salaries, give back land and help their country rebuild in this great time of need. We want to reach at least 10,000 signatures, slightly less than the US dollar equivalent of the Ksh 750,000/- that Kenyan MPs received on their first day of work this year, so please tell your friends and fellow citizens!
