'If you want to make money, go tax men's underwear'

Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo has opposed the contentious Finance Bill 2024, particularly criticizing the proposed taxes on imported sanitary pads and diapers.

During a heated parliamentary debate on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, Odhiambo addressed the issue of period poverty, stressing the negative impact these taxes would have on women and girls.

“As a former user of sanitary towels, and as dynasty as a former user of diapers, and as a future user of diapers because as a woman, once you get menopausal, you will have leaks and you will use diapers, I want to say: If you want to make money, go and tax men’s underwear. I don’t want women to get shame over periods or menopausal leaks,” Odhiambo stated.

Odhiambo criticized her male colleagues for speaking on women’s issues with authority, noting that women are the ones who truly understand what works for them.

“I have been sitting here listening to men speak about sanitary towels that is in the Finance Bill with authority. If we want to save money the way the Finance Bill has done, and want to tax anything else, go tax men’s inner wears. Don’t speak on our issues as women. We are the ones who know what works for us,” she said.

Highlighting the ongoing struggle for affordable menstrual products, Odhiambo questioned the feasibility of the proposed taxes on imported sanitary towels and diapers while the country was still waiting to manufacture its pads.

“While we are waiting to manufacture our pads, will we tell our periods to stop? Our girls are still going to get periods, and the cost of the pads will be high,” she argued.

Odhiambo made it clear that she does not support the Finance Bill.

“What I am saying, Mr. Speaker, is that I do not support the Finance Bill,” she firmly stated.

Tax on pads, diapers amended

On Tuesday, June 18, 2024, the National Assembly’s Finance and Planning Committee Chairperson Kimani Kuria announced changes to the Finance Bill 2024.

Among the key adjustments, the proposed 16% VAT on bread and VAT on the transportation of sugar have been removed. Additionally, VAT on financial services and foreign exchange transactions has been scrapped, and there will be no increase in mobile money transfer fees.

“The proposed 16 per cent VAT on bread has been removed. VAT on the transportation of sugar has also been removed. VAT on financial services and foreign exchange transactions has also been removed,” Kuria said.

Other changes include the removal of the 2.5 per cent Motor Vehicle Tax and excise duty on vegetable oil. Levies on the Housing Fund and Social Health Insurance will be income tax deductible.

“Levies on the Housing Fund and Social Health Insurance will become income tax deductible. This means the levies will not attract income tax, putting much more money in the pockets of employees,” he disclosed.

Kuria said locally manufactured products such as sanitary towels, diapers, phones, computers, tyres, and motorcycles will be exempt from the Eco Levy. The VAT registration threshold has been increased from Ksh5 million to Ksh8 million, reducing the need for small businesses to register.

The responsibility for electronic invoicing ETIMS by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has been removed for farmers and small businesses with a turnover below Ksh1 million.

The Molo MP also said excise duty will be imposed on imported table eggs, onions, and potatoes. Additionally, the excise duty on alcoholic beverages will now be based on alcohol content rather than volume, with higher alcohol content attracting more duty. The exemption for pension contributions has also been increased from Ksh20,000 to Ksh30,000.

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