Down memory lane

MR MWAI KIBAKI, 1970:

Many people rushed to buy cars, beer and other things they thought would be taxed and were disappointed when none of them was touched. Many had thought Mr Kibaki, who loved his beer warm, would defy his bias to tax “such luxurious items like beer” to finance development expenditure.

MR MUSALIA MUDAVADI, 1993:

He re-introduced the Personal Identification Number (PIN) tax system, which had been suspended that year by President Daniel arap Moi, who said it was cumbersome. Mr Mudavadi said PIN was essential as a means of broadening the tax base and as a file reference.

MR CHRIS OKEMO, 2000:

He criminalised the issuing of bouncing cheques. Fidgety MPs looked at one another and then burst into laughter. Some of them were known to issue such
cheques at fundraisers.

MR CHRIS OKEMO, 2001:

An incentive for the expansion of rural transport came through the removal of import duty on bicycles. This was expected to promote the sale of bicycles for taxis, commonly known as boda boda. This drew curious giggles as Mr Okemo incidentally comes from near the Busia border where the bicycle taxi trade originated.

MR DAVID MWIRARIA, 2003:

He waived export duty on macadamia and cashew nuts and zero-rated raw coffee to allow farmers to claim tax paid on inputs. He also lifted import duty on fertile eggs.

MR DAVID MWIRARIA, 2004:

He scraped the Donde Act, which put limits on interest charged on loans and deposits to the principal amount.