CASs are good they will pay taxes, Elachi says

Dagoretti North MP Beatrice Elachi.[Samson Wire,Standard]

Dagoretti North Member of Parliament(MP) Beatrice Elachi has said that the position of Chief Administrative Secretaries (CASs) should be reinstated.

 Speaking on Thursday, December 7 in an interview with K24 TV, Elachi said that the position that was stopped by the court is good since they will pay taxes like other Kenyans.

She added that their role is important to help track different government departments' workflow.

The legislator argued that the CASs paying taxes, it will help boost revenue since they will pay taxes once they get salaries.

“Even if they get salaries, they will pay taxes, we are creating a larger tax base to go back to the government because they employ others. For me, it is not a non-issue  money,” she said.

Elachi who was a former CAS for Gender and Public Service in the previous Jubilee administration dismissed claims of the expenses that the government would incur in creating the positions.

“If you ask me, this turn of saying ‘we don’t have money’ is not the right one. I want a positive turn. Yes, we have a crisis but this is not the first time Kenya is finding itself in crisis. We cannot keep lamenting… God has blessed us.”she added.

The legislator further said that the CAS positions are important to help Cabinet Secretaries deliver their mandate.

“In fairness of the country and  delivery of service and ensuring that those ministries function in the right way, you need a deputy with a clear role… who will represent the CS in meetings when they are not around… who will follow through on all the other issues that are within the ministry,” the MP said.

She opined that the position should be approved since there are atleast three  Principal Secretaries holding positions assisting some CSs.

The woes of the position started in March this year when the National Assembly first declined to vet the 50 CAS nominees picked by President William Ruto, saying it had no constitutional authority to conduct the vetting.

President Ruto went ahead and swore them into office at State House but the High Court later stopping them from taking offices terming the office unconstitutional.