Signs of the times
I am told politicians in Kenya are contemplating putting up legislation or something like that to compel their athletes pay tax on prize money they win outside the country. There is one group of politicians who argue that as Kenyans, the obligation to pay tax is for all. If you are an adult and vote, you will pay income taxes. There is another group of politicians who are arguing that if athletes were to be compelled to pay income taxes, some will be compelled to leave the country and fly other countries’ flags. I find that both camps have a point. You will be correct to think that those politicians who believe athletes should not be taxed as described above are from those counties or districts where the athletes come from.
Who do you think the athletes have sided with? Not many people want to pay income taxes. Our own State President does not want to pay tax, does she? She doesn’t. Yes, the law book says that she should not be charged income tax but that is what she wants anyway. If she was not in favour of such an idea, she would have gone ahead to agitate for a change. This woman is a doer is she not? She moves mountain. But she also benefits from the tax-free status that she would do nothing about changing such unfair and discriminatory piece of legislation.
Would you allow me to go to the 30 percent issue? Yes, I am talking about the 30 percent salary cut that the president announced she would be having since the economy was bad? In case you were not in Malawi or forget easily, Mrs. Joyce Banda found the Malawi economy in tatters. This is a fact. Then she changed a few things and people got hurt. But she promised that things would improve but to hurt with the people, she was going to get a salary cut of 30 percent. So, Mr. Moses Kunkuyu announced to us about the salary cut. Other government officials and party zealots made it clear that the president was doing that out of love for the country. Has the president continued to donate her 30 percent of salary to the country? Or has she withdrawn that offer and secretly started enjoying her pay? Since they told us about the 30 percent salary cut, why are they not telling us if there is no longer the cut?
Who should be our next president? Most people would think that their own preference should be the person who wins. Some would suggest that the person who is most liked should be the next president. I differ with all these two proposals. I do not want the person who I vote for to become the president. I also do not think that the person who is most liked should win. I think the person who can guide this country out of its different problems (man-made and natural) should be our President. If it happens to be the most liked and my choice, so much the better.
