Despite the acres of newspaper space accorded the irritating issue of ‘MPigs’ salaries, we are not yet out of the woods.

The honourable members continue to charge like wounded rhinos. Somebody tell MPs that even though they can “make any law” Kenya is greater than 349 greedy individuals. To insinuate that they will push for a lowered VAT charge to make life bearable for the common man is laughable like an elephant in a China shop.

In fact, interfering with VAT and exempting a large section of workers from paying taxes will make life unbearable. The government(s) will lack funds needed to offer essential services.

Having lost the war to Salary and Remuneration Commission (SRC), parliamentarians are now venting their anger on innocent civilians whose only mistake was to elect them. Respect and decorum that befits a mheshimiwa has been thrown out of the window.

With the exemption of Machakos County Governor, Dr Alfred Mutua, all other elected officials are gazing at Treasury for the distribution of goodies.

My simple advice; let our leaders wake up and start thinking of revenue generation. The flour for baking the national cake is in their hands.

 {Kamichore Mutindira, Nairobi}

 

The threat by MPs to cut the salaries of other state officers including the President by 57 per cent, reducing VAT and exempting Kenyans earning below Sh50,000 from paying tax is a mind game aimed at buying public confidence by showing that “they care”.

In my opinion, this is a kind of revenge because their plan for pay-hike appears to have hit rock bottom. The move to reduce VAT and exempt Kenyans earning less than Sh50,000 from paying taxes is probably an effort to starve the Jubilee Government of much-needed revenue to fund key programmes.

To this end, I hail the President and the SRC chair Sarah Serem for standing tall and in reprimanding the MPs.

  {Wafula Philip, Nairobi}

 

That our MPs want to pass laws exempting some Kenyans who earn peanuts from paying income tax is a good idea.

They should have done this many years ago because life to this cadre of citizens has always remained unbearable. However, they should look into the issue with sober minds and not as an act of revenge for their slashed salaries.

Many small earners in this country are overburdened by taxes and it is time they got a reprieve. I have persistently wondered aloud, for instance, why the likes of pensioners can’t be tax exempt irrespective of what they earn.

 The monthly personal relief of Sh1162 on taxable income does not make sense in these hard times.

     {James Omedo Kihali, Bungoma}

 

It’s clear that MPs are on a revenge mission after their selfish demands for pay hike got a hostile reception in the court of public opinion. Their desperate attempt to slash salaries of the President and his deputy is a desperate move by these people who are charged with improving our lives.

{Geoffrey Ndiema, Endebess}