Mps Who Have Refused To Pay Taxes

The small matter of taxes keeps coming up. This is the first time that mps have come closest to paying their taxes but closest isn't good enough, whether they will pay or not is still not clear. Bravo to those of them who have paid, among them, President Kibaki, Prime minister Raila, Vice president Kalonzo, Ferdinand Waititu, Mutava Musyimi, Sonko,Margaret Wanjiru and any other not highlighted here, but of course the biggest applause should be spared for those who had been paying prior to this fracas. Peter Kenneth and Johnstone Muthama have been exceptional.

Some Mps are just amazingly unbelievable. The issue of some letters promising you not to pay up should not come up unless there is a supporting clause from the constitution. At the end of the day, the president and the prime minister are just politicians, just like you. Every time, you are breaking the promises you made to your constituents yet you do not want any promise made to you to be broken. In any case, whether you supported the new constitution or not, Kenyans would  still have voted for it anyway.

That some of the mps take home less than sh20,000, is just funny. You were provided with a mortgage, you took it, then came the car loan, you took it. Almost sh20 million in your first year. As if not enough, your kids are schooling in the best schools, many of which are abroad. The last thing people expect from you is to blame the taxman for your woes. Life must continue and taxes must be paid. Plan your finances.

Going through the list of those who are not willing to pay taxes and three of them particularly stand out. Eldoret North mp, William Ruto, filthy rich by whatever measures. Probably earns tens of millions every month from his businesses. sh 200,000 a month should not be anything you cannot afford. Though he has not refused to pay publicly, he has also not said he will pay. Been a leader with an eye for the top seat, how should Kenyans expect you to lead them. Uhuru Kenyatta, arguably a member of the richest family in Kenya. Speak up and state your position. That's what leaders do. Stanley Githunguri, quite old, so rich. Pay up your taxes.

Some Mps are genuinely broke for sure. Now that is where a walk to Times Tower should come in handy. Let them go and negotiate a unique payment plan for themselves in installments that will not shut down their lives. Hiding in packs will not do anyone any good. Speaker Marende should have realised that some funny MOU's will not get the backing of even the junior most magistrate. Here is a list of some mps who are still admant of not payijng their taxes.

Those capable but yet to pay
Uhuru Kenyatta
William ruto
Stanley Githunguri
Ephraim Maina
John Michuki


Mps who have refused to pay adamantly
Eugene Wamalwa
Fred Kapondi
Mwangi Kiunjuri
Kenneth Marende
Elias Mbau
Charity Ngilu
John Mbadi
Mutula Kilonzo
Joshua Kutuny
Olago Aluoch
John Pesa
Jamleck Kamau
Shakeer Shabir
Orwa Ojode
Asman Kamama
Among others...

Most mps have resorted to silence and that is proof that they are not willing to pay but are also not willing to be victimized by the public. Whether some mps have paid silently is quite likely but next to impossible considering the publicity every politician would love.

Threats of stripping off the spouses of the top three their benefits have been floated. Also stripping off the retirement benefits of the president has been considered as an option. As that is been done, please remember to pay your taxes honourable members. Not paying taxes for anyone with an income of below Sh 30,000 could be welcome news to many, but please do not use emotions to make a move that would spell disaster for the Kenyan economy.