Parliament Invites Kenyans To Submit Views On Bill Set To Give KRA Power To Set Exams In Schools

• Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung'wah, who doubles up as the National Assembly majority leader, is behind the KRA Amendment Bill 2024
• The bill seeks to provide a legal framework for the Kenya School of Revenue Administration to collaborate with other institutions of higher learning
• It will also empower the Treasury Cabinet secretary to waive penalties for agents who fail to transfer funds due to system downtime

TUKO.co.ke journalist Japhet Ruto has over eight years of experience in financial, business, and technology reporting and offers profound insights into Kenyan and global economic trends.

Parliament has invited Kenyans to submit their views on a new bill that would give the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) the power to set school exams.

Who is behind the KRA Amendment Bill 2024?

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah sponsors the Kenya Revenue Authority (Amendment) Bill of 2024.

It seeks to amend Section 5 of the Kenya Revenue Authority Act (cap 469).

"...to provide a legal framework for the Kenya School of Revenue Administration to collaborate with other institutions of higher learning to provide programmes in revenue administration, develop curricula and assess or examine students and award qualifications," the bill states.

Parliament asked Kenyans to submit memoranda on the bill to the National Assembly's Finance and Economic Planning Committee.

What are other proposals in the KRA Amendment Bill 2024?

• Section 13: Amended to state that the commissioner-general will appoint deputy commissioners.
• Section 15A: Empowers the Cabinet secretary to waive penalties for agents who fail to transfer funds due to system downtime, non-compliance not due to willful negligence, receivership or statutory management, force majeure events & other justifiable reasons as deemed appropriate.

The deadline to submit views is September 9.

What is the Mung Beans Bill 2024?

In other news, the Mung Beans Bill 2022 proposes the establishment of the National Mung Bean Policy to guide the selling of mung beans in Kenya.

According to the bill, the Agriculture and Food Authority will maintain a register of all growers and buyers.

If passed into law, a person contravening the act will face a fine not exceeding KSh 1 million shillings, imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or both.

How John Mbadi plans to salvage Finance Bill 2024 proposals

Elsewhere, President William Ruto's administration plans to table the Tax Laws (Amendment) Bill 2024 before Parliament, which will be John Mbadi's first step as Treasury CS.

Mbadi inherited a cash-strapped exchequer overburdened by high debts.

He explained that the defunct bill contained provisions that could help the country out of its current situation and enhance economic growth.

Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke