Taxing milk, bread will worsen malnutrition, says MP Gogo

Rangwe MP Lilian Gogo has urged the government to reconsider its plans of introducing value added tax on milk and bread saying the move will worsen malnutrition.

Gogo said plans by the National Treasury to introduce a value added tax of 16 per cent on bread and milk is bad in a country, where malnutrition is still rife among the children.

She wants the national government to stop the planned taxation on grounds that majority of Kenyans will lack the ability to purchase bread and milk.

“I’m opposing the government's intension to impose the value added tax on milk and bread because it will interfere with the well being of children. Milk is basic for growth and development of children,” Gogo said.

She spoke on Thursday when she opened five classrooms constructed with the NG-CDF funds in Bondo Primary School at the cost of Sh7.5million.

She was accompanied by BOM chairman John Obunga and members, Jane K’Onditi , Kennedy Ochieng’ and Japheth Kiriu.

"Majority of Kenyans have low income and introducing such taxes will incapacitate buying power," Gogo said.

The MP urged the government to look for ways of reducing taxes on essential commodities such as food items, sanitary products and animal feeds.

“Let the government focus on ways of reducing the cost of living instead of imposing more taxes on Kenyans,” she said.

Gogo said she will invest more in education to empower the community.

She said construction of the classrooms will improve academic standards in schools.

“Let all stakeholders work together in supporting education to ensure we have a productive population in future,” Gogo said.

Obunga and K’Onditi said the new five classrooms is a boost to infrastructural development of the school that was built in 1934.

“The school has had dilapidated classrooms which are not conducive to learning. We hope to improve academic performance afterwards,” Obunga said.