Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has passionately pushed for the passage of the Finance Bill, 2023 as is saying the proposed taxes contained therein are necessary for Kenya's economic growth.
While giving his views during a debate on Tuesday, Cherargei said paying taxes is a mandatory obligation for mankind only second to death.
"Madam speaker there are two things in life that you are sure of, either death or payment of tax," the senator said.
The Finance Bill, 2023, seeks to amend various tax laws and related statutes to expand the tax base and allow the Kenya Revenue Authority to generate more revenue.
The proposals have generated heated public opinion with a section of commentators claiming some of the proposals will worsen the current cost of living.
But Cherargei said the obligation for Kenyans to raise revenue through taxation is inescapable and must be fulfilled without fail.
He said the late former President Mwai Kibaki was a firm believer in a self-sufficient country where its own people raise taxes to meet their needs.
The lawmaker said because of this belief, the former head of state who's largely credited for Kenya's economic recovery managed to increase the country's annual revenue from less than Sh300 billion in 2002 to almost Sh1 trillion when he left office ten years later.
"Because of just saying kulipa ushuru ni kujitegemea (paying taxes is self-reliance)," he said.
Cherargei defended the National Housing Fund which is aimed at providing affordable housing to Kenyans through monthly contributions of three per cent of their salary.
He said if anything, the fund is a form of savings.
"Madam Speaker, I don't have a problem as a senator paying for the housing levy fund because it's a savings fund, after seven years I can still get my money and do whatever I want or give it to my daughter or son to continue proceeding," he said.
The Bill's timeline of approval is June 30 which will coincide with the enactment of the Appropriation Law, 2023.
The Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning chaired by Molo MP Kimani Kuria started receiving public views on the Bill on Monday.
