Q. What id Kenyans For Tax Justice?
A. This is a movement that is participating in organizing local communities and tax payers on issues around Land, businesses and the basic commodity taxes that have been introduced as a result of the Multi-Global economic oppression through institutions like the World Bank. These institutions continue to pollute the environment by making unfair policies that make the poor poorer while the rich grow fatter through overtaxing the poor and giving tax incentives to the rich.


Egdar Ogutu defines what Kenyans For Tax Justice Is

FREE, QUALITY MEDICARE;Was it just another dream?
Residents from  informal settlements are now furious with the government as they claim to be deceived in terms of the free medical attention promised by the president.
According to Hidaya Wanjiku from “Sophia” in Majengo slums, whenever they visit their local dispensary they are required to purchase the drugs prescribed by the doctor with the only drugs offered for free being Paracetamol and Piriton.
She says due to the low literacy levels amongst the people in their neighbourhood, they sometimes do not follow the doctors prescription to script whilst others cannot purchase the drugs which were unavailable at the dispensary.
Hidaya says this situation leaves them ailing longer and when they return to the dispensary they are referred to Mbagathi District Hospital where one has to buy a kshs 100 card to book an appointment with the doctor.
To them matters are worse at the district hospitals as as it takes a whole day to secure the doctors appointment while labarotory tests range from Kshs 100 to 500 depending on the disease. If the laboratory malfunctions one has to seek tests from private hospitals which are far more expensive.
Hidaya adds that the patients are sometimes too crowded for the few beds and if one’s condition deteriorates they are eventually referred to Kenyatta National  Hospital where  matters are far from better as the medical costs there are not affordable to the normal Mwananchi.
She now wants the government to stick to it’s promise of offering free medication  to reduce the tribulations of poor patients adding that the government should step in and deal with doctors who are slow in response to needy patients. 



FREE, QUALITY MEDICARE; Was it just another dream?

Petrol Prices Up By Ksh.1.24, As Kerosene, Diesel Prices Drop.

Super Petrol consumers will be forced to dig deeper into their pockets after the energy regulatory commission decision to increase the maximum pump prices by 76 cents.

It's a relief for kerosene and diesel users however as the retail prices reduced by 1.07 and 1.69 shillings respectively.

A litre of petrol will retail at 116 shillings and 62 cents in Nairobi while the cost of one litre of diesel will be sold at 104 shillings and 98 cents and kerosene will cost 83 shillings and 5 cents per litre. In Mombasa, the maximum prices will be 113.25 shillings a petrol, diesel 99.64 shillings and kerosene 80.26 shillings.

In Nakuru a litre of petrol will retail at 117 shillings and 23 cents, diesel at 103 shillings and 84 cents and kerosene at 83 shillings and 82 cents.

In Eldoret one litre of petrol will cost 118 shillings and 38 cents, diesel 104.98 while Kerosene will be sold at 84.85 shillings. In Kisumu a litre of petrol will cost 118 shillings and 45 cents, diesel at 105 and 5 cents while kerosene will retail at 84  shillings and 84 cents.


Petrol Prices Up By Ksh.1.24, As Kerosene, Diesel Prices Drop

Kamukunji residents are decrying lack of eligibility by the county government in the management of the tax they collect from area residents.
According to Mwangela Joseph from Eastleigh, Nairobi, the county government has not made any major changes to the already dilapidated government infrastructures such as roads, schools and hospitals despite their daily collection of levies.
Joseph Mwangela who was a Miraa trader but was rendered jobless following the ban of Miraa transport to the United Kingdom, says they wonder where the county government prioritizes the use of revenue collection yet even the smallest entrepreneur such as  the ‘Mogoka Seller ‘ pays the tax man.
Echoing his comments was another local charcoal trader commonly known as Hamzin saying he cannot make earn an earnest living as the rates he pays for tax daily equal the profits he makes from his small business. On the other hand Hamzin says they need to be enlightened on how the money is distributed once collected since most of them are unaware on how it is spent. 
Mwangela went ahead to fault the National government for not including public participant during the crafting of laws leading to tax collection saying they are unfriendly to low income earners. He adds that the incentives awarded to multinational companies to set up businesses in Kenya while sidelining local companies shows the National government is not geared into elevating the country’s economy level.


I Pay Taxes, My Views Count Too!

Kenyans are attributing the poor state of governmental health facilities to poor funding by the treasury.

Emmanuel Ochieng from Githurai says the frequent strikes by medical practitioners and overcrowding of referral hospitals is evidence enough that the government has neglected the health sector.

Ochieng says those who bear the brunt are usually the patients especially those who cannot afford to seek medical care from private hospitals.

“The hospitals are never full; it’s the doctors who are negligent. You can stand on a queue for hours without being attended to. You will find a patient dying on the hospital queues just because they cannot afford to pay the charges.”

He further attributes the influx of local medics to other countries abroad to lack of proper care by the government.


Hospitals Of Death

People who use public transport could be hit with an unexpected tax bill once the new cashless mode of paying for transport is fully implemented.

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is reportedly working on a framework to facilitate taxation of all passenger service vehicles, matatus and minibuses that carry up to 24 people.

National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich confirmed that the Government had started preparing the laws necessary to facilitate taxation of the revenues matatus receive from commuters.

“We have given the legal framework and the tax laws are very clear. It is law that everybody must pay tax, and the Kenya Revenue Authority is just implementing that law. Nobody should be exempted,” he said.

It is not yet clear what amount the Government intends to deduct as tax from matatu profits, but the industry generates up to Sh400 million in gross revenue on a daily basis, or Sh146 billion annually.

How KRA will mint money through cashless matatu fares!

The recent move by senators asking for an increase in their allowances has sparked outrage among Mathare Youths who are terming it selfish.

The youths argued that the monies could be used to provide solutions to the problems ailing the country such as insecurity, high cost of living and other pressing challenges other than their personal needs.  

"Instead of them focusing on major issues like terrorism and insecurity, what they seem to be doing is looking at what goes in their pockets. Where do they think all that money will come from?" They wondered.

They also added that it was a shame for the legislators to prioritize their pay while there are many Kenyans suffering in silence. 

The new hefty perks proposed by the senators will cover such items as office expenses and a special one-off allocation to furnish their offices and buy vehicles. 

If the proposals are accepted, the lawmakers, who have been in office for just 15 months, will earn a total of Sh2.4 million a month!

The Senate That Sucks!

A Few Days ago we had a community forum in Huruma, Kaimaiko. So many queries were raised on what exactly was the proper answer to the questions; What is Tax Justice? And Why is it important for tax payers to be wary of the government spending? 

This is what Muchangi Nyaga, Social Activist from Ghetto Green Youth Group, Huruma, thinks is the proper answer.

What is Tax and Tax Justice?

People Centered Movement for Organizing Against Unjust Tax Regimes.

TaxJustice KE