House levy is good but timing is wrong

Amidst the crisis of hard economic times biting Kenyans, the 3% house levy that the government plans to deduct from employed Kenyans is another painful blow move by the government. The current government came into play when the economy was declining across the world owing to Ukraine war, rising dollar exchange rates, and aftermath covid-19 pandemic. It’s no doubt that economic recovery takes time and a lot of effort but over-taxation is adding salt to the wound.

House levy is not a priority in a government that is struggling to keep it’s economy afloat. How can we call it a priority in a situation where a normal citizen can hardly sustain the basic needs. Most Kenyans who are paying the taxes are living from hand to mouth. This means that their income cannot sustain them fully. More often low income earners would borrow loans to be able to manage some of the bills and sustain their families. How then can such a person save? The government should not continue exerting pressure on common mwananchi.

Currently, prices of basic commodities have reached a record high. This means the idea of paying house levy cannot feature in priority list. First it is not easy to convince a Kenyan to pay a levy for houses while they believe all of them have houses and places to live. The government should instead find alternative ways.

There are 57 public hospitals, including seven national referral hospitals, 47 county referral hospitals, and two sub-county hospitals. There are 103 private hospitals, 58 mission hospitals, and 12 NGO hospitals in Kenya. How hard can it be for the government to ask Kenyans to fund for construction of more hospitals? Even upgrading current hospitals? There should be more discussion on things that matter and are of importance to every other citizen rather than those which seems would benefit others in the end.

More often than not such projects in Kenyan government create rifts between the political leaders. This rifts extends to the citizens and would derail the already struggling economy. Other leaders would dive into such schemes to justify their already full-ever empty stomach. If the levy bill is passed chances of the right people benefiting is so low. The current leaders especially the members of national assembly are answerable to the electorates and not the system nor the president. As such the welfare of the people are always in their hands when such concerns are raised. People are crying about it and the government that listens to the plea of it’s electorates always thrive.

The bigger picture that the government should looking at is a way to curtail further decline of economy. They should be more innovative and ensure more goods are exported to generate more revenue. Creation of job and employments for idle youths should be the main agenda since it will increase the tax bracket. Health and welfare of it’s people is also more important than house levy.