Marende, are Kenyans sufficiently philanthropic?

Are Kenyans sufficiently philanthropic?
Updated on: Thursday, June, 23, 2011 Story by: MEEME JOSHUA

Speaker Kenneth Marende has pulled another sententious remark from his bagful of Solomonic wisdom. However, this time his ruling does not reek any iota of wisdom. On a trip funded by poor Kenyans dying from hunger in Turkana and North Eastern, Marende unashamedly opposes taxation of Mps allowances. Poor ordinary Kenyans are truthful to paying taxes but the captain of honorable masqueraders has the audacity to oppose implementation of the Constitution on taxation. Taxman must move with speed and attach property of tax defaulters with view to auctioning it. We passed the constitution and it cannot be applied selectively.

The constitution has not been suspended to favor constitutional office bearers at the expense of poor jobless Kenyans. Mps have their share of problems and so do all Kenyans. We cannot pretend that when Mbadi announces that Parliament will be compromised that Kenyans will miss their sleep. No. To Marende and Mbadi the constitution is in force. And because the constitution is not a respecter of persons, ordinary Kenyans would be contemplating boycotting payment of taxes if Mps allowances would not be taxed.

How many Kenyans take home a paltry one-tenth of the amount the Mps are refusing to be taxed? Sh 550,000 to our honorable members sounds like loose change. They currently take home Sh 850,000. In one year each MP takes home more than Sh 10 million. But to millions of Kenyans dying of hunger, walking to Industrial Area every morning, sitting at the Hilton's jobless centre with brown envelopes, this is money they have never dreamed of. When Marende states that Mps will not pay taxes, I wonder why Kagundo MP Johnstone Muthama and Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth would feel so philanthropic to pay taxes on their allowances.

Two Kenneths appear to be on the extreme ends of their hemispheres of thinking. For Kenneth Peter, it is a responsibility that comes with duty to pay taxes. To Kenneth Marende it is case of a piece of wood that is in the mantel laughing at the one burning in the fireplace. Kenyans today are wiser, Marende. This time you are out of order. Mr Speaker Sir, could I be in order to ask you to lead Parliamentarians in paying taxes. For purposes of clarity: Article 210 (3) states, "No law may exclude or authorize the exclusion of a State officer from payment of tax by reason of (a) the office held by that State officer; or (b) the nature of the work of the State officer." This time it is not act of philanthropy but observance of the Constitution. If you don't the Constitution will take its due course on you as it does on people who defy to pay taxes. Poor people of Emuhaya are watching, you enjoy trappings of the Speaker privileges courtesy of these poor old and young men and women. Respect their wish, for their wish should be your command.

joshmemento@yahoo.com