Inside Politics

‘If you’ve been paying taxes why worry’ – Kimilili MP Barasa tells Mama Ngina

Sunday, February 5th, 2023 12:58 | By
Didmus Barasa attacks Mama Ngina Kenyatta
Collage of Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa and Mama Ngina Kenyatta. PHOTOS/Courtesy

Kimilili Member of Parliament (MP) Didmus Barasa has weighed in on former First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta's response to the ongoing tax debate.

In a tweet shared, Barasa insisted that everyone should pay taxes for the good of the country, he also wondered why the former first lady was worried if she had paid taxes as she claimed.

"If you've been paying taxes why worry, it is our duty as Kenyans to pay taxes and build the nation. No one is excluded in this, all Kenyans pay taxes. Watu walipe ushuru," the MP said.

Screenshot of Barasa's tweet. PHOTO/(@DidmusBarasa)Twitter

Earlier, Mama Ngina came out to defend her family after claims emerged that the Kenyatta family was not paying taxes.

In a rejoinder, Mama Ngina explained that it was everyone's duty to pay taxes regardless of their social class.

She subsequently told off a section of Kenya Kwanza leaders who fronted the debate for their own selfish ambitions.

"Naskia mengine nasemwa eti wengine wengine hawatoi kodi. Nashangaa kwa sababu kila mtu anaamka anasema hii na mwingine anaamka anasema hii lakini serikali iko na laini yake ya vile mambo inaendeshwa. Mambo ya kodi income tax ni lazima; mkubwa na mdogo kulipa kulingana na uwezo wake na mapato yake. Iyo si kazi ya kuzungmuza katika kwa magazeti kwa mikutano ama tv," she said.

This loosely translates to:

“I wonder when I hear some people say that others are not paying taxes. I wonder because people wake up and just say things disregarding the fact that the government has a way of running such matters. Paying taxes is a must for everyone regardless of their status in society. It’s not a matter to be talked about in the media or in political gatherings,"

"Hakuna mambo ya kuharibia wale wengine majina ndio watu wasike eti wanafanya kazi, wanaendesha nchi. Hapana. Mtu ashtakiwe alipe ile kitu anatakikana kulipa (There’s no need of maligning some people to prove that you are working) she added.

Further, Ngina alluded that she was willing to sell her property to pay taxes, should she be found guilty of exempting taxes.

"Na kama ni mimi hata nikiwa na mwaka moja nakosea bila kulipa, mali ichukuliwe illipe ile tax kwa sababu ni lazima,"

Loosely translates to:

"Even if it’s myself who’s not paid taxes even for one year, I’m ready to have my property sold o pay the taxes," she added.

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