Budget 2014/15

Excerpts by @JGMBugua of today's budget speech that was read in the Kenya Parliament, by the National Treasury Cabinet Secretary, Henry Rotich. 

• Grumbles still rumbling through Parliament as members realize they have been snookered and the Waiguru motion is dead
• Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA tax collection) target set at Kshs 1.1 trillion for the coming year i.e. ~$12.5 billion
• Financial Services Authority to be established... We should be aware the FSA in the UK had to be split and some of its oversight functions returned to the Bank of England after systemic failures during the global financial crisis. The more apparent implication of establishing the Financial Services Authority is that it would likely see the collapse and merging of...the Capital Markets Authority, the Insurance Regulatory Authority, SASRA (for Saccos), the Retirement Benefits Authority and so on..
• Three new airports to be built in Mandera, Malindi and Suneka (?)
• Duty rates on import of iron and steel products increased from 0% - 25% - apparently to protect local industries
• KRA ordered to stop demanding custom bond from importers of refined industrial sugar and wheat...Those barons lobbied hard
• Import of inputs for seed processing exempted from duty.
• Govt moves to block multinationals from evading tax through transfer pricing where the local subsidiary buys from its mother company at exaggerated prices hence reporting little or no profits. "To keep the relationship at an arms length..." Rotich
• Stock market brokers win big as government and the Investor Compensation Fund forced to retreat and accept only 5% shareholding each in the demutualized stock exchange..Brokers to share 90%.

Analyzing Kenya Pipeline

Pre-IPO Peek at KPC

Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) is expected to be the next big privatization project to help plug the current Government of Kenya budget deficit. The IPO transaction adviser selection process is already underway for KPC and other state corporations

How much can one glean from audited accounts of the giant company? I got hold of a 2007 annual reports of the company – a rare big glossy booklet that mentions every project e.g. SAP, ISO, fibre optics, refurbishments in Western Kenya, Mombasa, Athi River, with lots of graph



KPC still mostly compares itself to other state corporations in terms of goals such as to raise capacity from 440,000 to 880,000 lire per hour by August 2008 - a massive project that later turned controversial and may have cost the last MD (Okungu) his job in January 2009.

Financials
- 2007 revenue of 8.8 billion shillings (~$117 million) (2007 was 8.45 billion and 2003 was 6.5 billion). 2007 Revenue comes from export services (4.3b) , local services (3.7b), and 748 million from kipevu storage fees
- Pre-tax profit of Kshs. 4.3 billion in 2007 (~$53 million)
- Earnings per share was 163 shillings [153 in 2006, 2003 was 29 shillings) – company’s shareholding is made up of 18 million ordinary shares of 20/= par each.
- Dividend paid out of 8.25 per share each year 2007 and 2006
- Cash of 4.5 billion (1.1 billion in 2003) of which 2.5 billion is in treasury securities (which they only started investments in 2005)
- Paid 2.2 billion in direct and indirect taxes and was recognized by Kenya Revenue Authority as a distinguished tax payer
- Total assets of 20.2 billion shillings (18.7 billion in 2006) –however fuel stocks of 13 billion shillings (384,509 cubic metres) that is owned by marketers is not include in their accounts. [2006 was 36 billion comprising 856,958 cubic metres]
2008 decline: summarized KPC financial accounts show revenue declined by 7% to Kshs. 8.2 billion and pre tax profit 54% down to Kshs. 2.6 billion in 2008

Auditors: Accounts audited by controller and auditor general, who hired Deloitte & Touche; who said the accounts were ok except to note that that 1.2 billion receivables (current assets) includes 348 million owed from an unnamed oil company that is the subject for a court case and for which no provisions have been made

Scandals: has been a cash cow for politicians for years with a high turnover of managing directors, manager and directors. Different parts of the report mention Kshs. 967 million pending in lawsuits, 404 million leasehold land unable to develop since it is gazetted forest land, 347 million from Oil Company, 314 million of obsolete spares, and Kshs. 221 million for a finance deal with Triple A that cost the previous MD (Ochuodho) his job. The company also provided Kshs. 382 million of services to National Oil Corp of Kenya (related company as they are both owned by the Government– do they pay all oil marketing fees?

Banking
Bank with NBK, CBA, Stanchart, Co-op. In 2007, they paid off all bank loans (EIB, Stanchart, and CBA) amounting to Kshs. 500 million in 2007, but are still stuck with the 221 million Triple A loan.
- KPC recently signed a syndicated loan of Kshs 8.2 billion with CFC-Stanbic, Barclays, CBA, Citibank, and KCB.

Exports:
- Exports 58% to Uganda, 155 Rwanda, DRC 14% Tanzania 6% Sudan 4% Burundi 3%
- strong shillings bad for export sales
-pricing structure – more expensive at Eldoret and Kisumu means that the company loses revenue if other countries e.g. Rwanda, Uganda remove their oil at Nakuru or Nairobi depots
- 50% of their revenue comes from fuel exports, and With oil being found in Uganda, Sudan, and possibly Congo, is the pipeline capable and adequate to transfer oil from central Africa to the coast at Mombasa?

Others & Non core activities
- will Construct an LPG plant with private sector investors (including Kenya pipeline refineries limited, and now-collapsed Triton) in Mombasa at a cost $50 million and one in Athi River at a cost of $13.5 million by Bharat of India
- Other income includes Kshs. 8 million in helicopter income, and also disposed of 120 million worth of helicopters in the year 2007
- 50 million donated to ministry of youth affairs
- 6 acres worth of land worth 30 million in Nairobi was donated for a street children rehabilitation center
- Spent 114 million in advertising (by a monopoly) and 35 million shillings in legal expenses
- Has shares in petroleum institute of east African and consolidated bank
- Successfully changed their pension from a defined benefit to a defined contribution scheme

Outlook:
- Slight financial dip in 2008 will probably be attributed to the post election disruptions
- Capital spending could be significant as they are extending the pipeline to Uganda (Eldoret to Kampala). Also the company already spends quite a bit in pipeline rehabilitation costs, and won't a complete new pipeline (though more expensive) be a better solution?
- Needs a stronger management team led by a strong MD – like Kengen’s Eddy Njoroge (someone with a legacy to protect who will shun the wheeler dealers) and a stronger board (not just the Energy ministers' cronies)
- Could be a good IPO buy i.e. a cash cow pre-tax profit margins of almost 50%

Other Opportunities
- Bank of Africa: branch managers, assistant branch managers, operations assistants’ recruitment@boakenya.com by 5/2
- Consolidated bank credit manager, administration manager, apply to the Head of HR 51133-00200 by 31/1
- Housing Finance senior relationship manager (mortgage finance), portfolio manager, legal officer, human.recources@housing.co.ke
Dyer & Blair sales agents, and for several hundred other weekly jobs visit Kenyan jobs blog

2008 Budget A to Z

Compared to the lofty 2007 Kenya budget, this one came at a serious time when the country had almost reversed gains made over the last five years, according to the Minister.

Challenges: regional disparities, poverty, youth employment low agriculture productivity, transport during crisis raised food prices, and containing inflation

Targets: 10% economic growth by 2012, Kenya to be a Middle income country by 2030, Social income reforms, develop a democratic issue-based political system and a higher quality of life

some excerpts

- Airlines: For Kenya airways: zero rate on international air travel no VAT on tickets?

Banking
- increase share capital from 250 million and 300m to 1 billion over 2 years(parliament rejected this last year) and can’t pay dividends till adequate provisions are made.
- 5 development finance institutions to be restructured, as will Postbank and the agriculture finance corporation. National bank will be privatized (further)
- CBK can penalize forex bureaus for violations
- Fate of unclaimed deposits to be decided by a task force to be formed

- BRIC China and India will keep food and oil high, but there are regional Africa opportunities

Capital markets
- NSE reporting: companies like Safaricom and kengen can publish their notices and accounts in two daily newspapers as opposed to mailing each shareholder a copy
- Insurance companies can invest 10% in any listed company – up from the previous 5% ceiling
- Annuities to publish quarterly returns
- Asset backed securities rules will be gazetted to encourage particplants
- Share capital of stockbrokers and i-banks raised to 50 million and 250 million respectively as anyone owing more than 25% barred from running the companies (3 years to comply). They must also get indemnity insurance for failure of employees
- CMA to get more power to seize assets

CDF: CDF benefits not tricked down due to poor management and there will be more accountability to reduce duplication. does that mean less funds for CDF now?

Education
- 1.56 billion towards teacher employment
- Teachers kids' education now not a taxable benefit for employers and teachers

Energy
- NOCK (parastatal) expanded to stabilize petrol prices
- clean energy: 4 billion for geothermal, 300 million solar electricity generated to supply 74 public institutions, 200m for wind power generation
- 6.8 billion for rural electrification (to develop mini grids) which will reduce rural urban migration.

Food prices
Minister says food price beyond the control of government
- Maize imports duty free
- talks to set up a regional fertilizer factory with Uganda and Tanzania
- 744 million for agric extension programs
- zero duty on bread and rice
- duty reduced from 35 to 10% for one year on wheat imports
- no duty on insulated tankers for milk transport

Health
- more nurses to be hired
- 550 million to support guardians of HIV orphans and this will benefit 30,000 households - up from the current 2,500

Housing
- Housing bill, landlord & tenant bill coming
- 350 million to construct 200,000 low cost housing units using appropriate building technology
- 500 million for infrastructure in slums
- National housing corp: relief for buyers of their houses – up to 150,000 p.a.

ICT
- 900 million shillings to develop a business process outsourcing park in Nairobi (BPO) which may create 10,000 jobs
- 700 million towards completion of Under sea cable improve bandwidth quality, reduce costs of communications.
- Remove import duty on telecommunication equipment as well as on printers

Land
- No stamp duty transfer for land transfer by individuals to companies wholly owned by families

licensing:
- communication commission of Kenya will reduce the number of licenses offered from 300 to 16 from July 2008, Ministry of tourism reduces from 25 to 2, Mines & geology 24 to 8, Betting control 26 to 9, Forestry from 15 to 11
- Business regulatory reform commission to be created

Manufacturing
- Remove import duty on hot rolled steel (was 10%)
- New 10% tax sodium sulphate, epoxy resin) to protect local producers
- Reduce import duty on cement form 40% to 25%
- Tax on plastics: manufacturer's can apply to get refunds of this tax get in line

Northern Kenya
- 2.9 billion shillings to the arid and semi arid areas rehabilitation through various ministries: this will include water, abattoirs, school feeding programs, rural electrification, livestock support
- also 900 million for the garissa garsen hola road (done by NYS) and for 200m improve marsabit and maralal water supplies

Parliament
- the Minister was interrupted for not sharing budget information for MP's in good time
-The Minister later asked members of parliament and constitution office holders to pay their share of income taxes

Ports:
- Mombasa port will be expanded with 20 billion of Japanese funds to allow bigger ships
- Free port at Mombasa to be set up (like Dubai) which should create jobs for the youth

Privatizations more coming to fix budget shortfall

Railway: Government wants Rift Valley Railways to increase capacity, lay more tracks, and transfer cargo.

Retirees: No tax on all pensions for those over 65 years

Roads:
- 65 billion shillings to be spent
- Build Athi river-namanga, mau summit – kericho, Nairobi to Thika
- Register all road contractors, engineers, quantity surveyors
- Long term infrastructure bond

Security:
- More funds for police force salaries, and equipment to fight crime
- Organized crimes bill to control gangs and militia and an anti money laundering bill coming to parliament
- 2.8 billion for new housing for police and prisons staff

Shilling central bank will not be intervening to adjust exchange rates

Sin taxes: beer and alcohol to cost more

Sports & arts
- Artist and sportsmen; any tax paid abroad can be used to offset against tax in Kenya if they show evidence of payment
- National football competition in every constituency (1 million shillings per constituency for purchase of kit and balls)

Tourism: budget 26% up
- 600 million to KTB to promote Kenya
- Exempt import duty gym equipment for hotel industry

Youth employment
- Absorb NYS graduates into armed forces
- Youth enterprise fund gets another 500 million
- 465 million for free tuition in vocational colleges from January 2009
- The 900 million shilling garissa hola road will be built by NYS who will also get contracts to fix dams across country - and who will also employ local youth

Water & environment
- 26% water budget improvement
- 1 billion towards multipurpose dams (built by NYS)
- 2nd mzima springs project to supply Mombasa with water.
- program to clean up Nairobi river
- Remove import duty on garbage collection trucks

Vehicles
- motorbikes: Zero VAT to motorcycles less than 250cc
- Vehicles to be registered as soon as they arrive in the country to prevent diversion of transit vehicles to local market

Expensive water

Bottled water companies have been lamenting about the excise duty they have had to pay for years – and it got even worse after the budget was read last week, increasing excise duty from 2.05 to 6 shillings excise tax per litre. This is likely to increase the price of water by 3 shillings per bottle. But at least they dodged a bullet with the postponed increased in the price of plastic (Those small plastic bottles you use and throw away cost about 10 shillings each, including plastic labels)

Still it is an odd paradox of life that a litre of water [which anyone can make at home] could (until recently) cost more than litre of petrol [imported from thousands of miles away and undergoes several complex processes].

2007 Budget A to Z

6.5 to 7% economic growth expected in 2007/08 and the budget will focus on strengthening the financial sector, reducing the cost of doing business, enhanced productivity and fixing infrastructure.

Some measure mentioned in the budget speech today (only heard 1/2 of it) include:

alcoholduty up on spirits, wine and some beer
auto spares Reduce import duty 25 to 10% for oil filter, but with increased excise duty on imported used spares
Banks minimum share capital increased from 250 million to 1 billion (over the next 3 years) and benchmarks will be set up to be adhered to
battery to protect local battery companies, a duty imposed on imported recycled batteries
Cigarettes tax up
east African investors get the same treatment as Kenyans, - i.e. withholding tax of 5% on dividends and improved allocation chances (will be treated same as Kenyan in pool expanded form 25 to 40%)
energy rural electrification to be continued as mini grids will be set up in large towns. 8 billion has been allocated to deal with (anticipated?) energy shortages so they don’t hamper manufacturing processes and the government will also complete the oil pipeline to Uganda and refurbish the refinery at Mombasa (even though other shareholders have refused to chip in)
Educationincreased funding for free secondary education, implement increased teacher salary agreement and hire 7,000 new teachers
hawkers 400m to be spent to construct a market for them in Nairobi
ICT 1 billion ($15 million) for TEAMS which is expected to be completed in mid-2008. Also a national fibre optic network will be in place to reduce the cost of communications. In addition a 200m ($3m) endowment fund for innovation and research will be set up and the private sector invited to top it up.
insurance companies minimum share capital raised. For Long term (50m to 150m), general (100m to 300m) and composite from (150m to 450m) – within 3 years.
leasing: Zero rate leasing of some equipment and removal of withholding tax requirement
licenses for businesses - eliminate 205, reform 371 others
Medical equipment duty removed
milkZero rate milk powder to promote local processing and value addition
mineral water tax imposed
police 25,000 new officers to be hired
plastic bags tax imposed while thin plastic bags are banned to improve the environment.
Privatization 36.1b shillings ($0.5 billion) expected from privatization: Telkom Kenya (get a strategic partner this month), Safaricom IPO on the NSE, more shares sold of Kengen (when price corrects) and National bank [these shares could be offloaded to 3rd parties and not through the exchange]
Pyrethrumextracts are zero rated to promote local insecticide production
real estate duty exemption for developed of low cost housing (but not in slums). Also pension savings can now be used as security for home loans (not just as down payment)
retirees monthly pension benefits will be exempt from tax. Also social security will accept voluntary contributions from those whose employers don’t take part
sugar development levy removed from imported industrial sugar
textiles removed import duty
trade import duty reduced from 2.75% to 2.25% for all goods from all outside east Africa and none from within east Africa
transportation removed TLB from non passenger commercial vehicles,
Tourism 2 million visitors expected this year and as benefited the local air and hotel sectors. Will develop eco and lake tourism and will create resorts in Mombasa, Turkana and Isiolo.
universities (private) duty removed on goods and services supplied to them
VAT refunds to speed up refunds (which business community has complained about), will become automatic for those companies with a proven track record
women a 2 billion shilling ($30 million) women enterprise fund to be set up – starting with 1 billion this coming year, and call on corporates to assist the fund.
youth fund allocation increase by 250m to 1.25 billion with a goal of taking it to 2 billion

Budget 2006/07

To gauge the importance of the budget speech given today, it is useful to look at 2005/06 budget speech from last year. Minister Kimunya gave his first budget speech as Minister, which was a progression from his predecessor, Minister Mwiraria who resigned at the beginning of the year.

He has several popular positions: He will have correctly read the mood of the country leading to the 2007 elections, the resentment the public has for ever fattening MP allowance packages, and also noticed the Rwanda example in cutting back on government limousines, while at the same time having to keep the government moving on taxes, without factoring in donor support. Again, he depends on Parliament to pass several bills to enable the government to meet its goals.

Economy
Has grown for 3 straight years, hitting 5.8% with 460,000 new jobs created last year. That statement by the Minister produced groans from MP’s within the first 2 minutes of his speech prompting Speaker Kaparo to ask them to wait and comment on the truth of that statement later. The Minister however noted that the rich - poor gap was unacceptably high. He called on the private sector to lead economic growth while admitting that the government had gotten embroiled in some scandals, from which they had learnt their lesson.
Outlook GDP to increase by 5.8%
Jobs 1.4m new jobs created over the last 3 years
Inflation
- T-bill rates stable at 8 to 8.5%, even though the trade deficit has widened
- He expects inflation to decline to 5% by year end from 13% in May
- Government will stick to the 29.5 billion shilling borrowing limit
- Increase money supply by 10% by next June
Alleviate poverty: Budget allocation to health, agriculture, rural development, education and infrastructure sectors combined increased from 60.7 to 62.7% and to 66.5% next year.
Taxes, not Donors: As with Mwiraria, he is not factoring in donor funding. Therefore it’s importance to maintain revenue growth (i.e. though taxation). He also thanked taxpayers for their contributions several times during his speech.

Investors
Bonds and the NSE
- Country will fund infrastructure projects through bonds
- The government will encourage parstatals with good cash flows to develop bonds to support their funding requirements
- Asset backed securities for infrastructure will be exempt from income tax
- All listing costs on the NSE to be tax deductible
- Exempted interest income for bonds for infrastructure and social services with at least 3 years maturity
- Also tax deduction to support the creation of ESOP’s. (Employees ownership programs)
- Dividends unclaimed after 7 years will be transferred from companies back to the CMA investor compensation fund – from where investors can claim it if/when they ever resurface

Real Estate Property owners took a major hit with the government now re-introducing capital gains tax on the transfer of property. However generous deductions were put back for 1st time home owners and mortgage buyers.

Member of Parliamnent
Happy
- CDF up by 40% from 7.2b to 10 billion per year. This is an increase from 2.5 to 3% of national collection (but much less than the 7.5% MP’s are demanding)
- LATF will increase and each constituency will have about 40 – 50m each year with about 11m for roads (and MP’s are in charge of this). They will also get extra funds for bursaries and police stations.
- The minister advised MP’s to use the funds carefully as it will affect how they will be judged by their constituents in the 2007 elections
- Funding for political parties allowed
Sad
Their salary and entertainment allowances in addition to that of other constitutional office holders will now be taxed.

Government spending
- 461b budgeted (26% of GDP) for the year and Kimunya called on officers to use scarce resources efficiently
- 2/3 of the wage bill goes to health and education
Monster trucks banned
- New transport policy for public service goes into effect on July 1 which will reduce cars pools expect for key sectors such as police and health
- Ministers, their assistant and permanent secretaries will have just 1 official car
- No use of official vehicles to and from duty (wheelbarrow maybe?)
- The Government will dispose of extra vehicles by 30 September
- No provision for purchase of motor vehicles this year – and constitutional offices must first get approval from treasury

Banking/financial sector
- Government intends to reduce discrimination in the sector by amending the banking act. This will allow for institutions like Muslim banks which will lower the cost of banking
- He will create an independent insurance authority
- He will also create an independent authority for micro finance institutions
- The central bank of Kenya (CBK) will have an independent chairman – and the governor (who currently chairs the board) will be an ‘MD’ who is answerable to board
- Lease financing: Generous waivers wer given for this, but still subject to withholding tax

Privatization
In 2006 - 07 the government will;
- Restructure and privatize Telkom and NBK
- Sell government shareholding in Mumias and Kenya Re
- License a second national telephone operator and other gateway licensees
- Concession the Mombasa port

Corruption
- Government will hire more lawyers
- National anti-corruption plan to be launched next month with measurable indicators
- Findings and recommendations on Anglo Leasing and Goldenberg investigations to be implemented

Improve Business
- KPA, KRA, KBS and Police will now work 24 hours at the port of Mombasa to ease congestion
- KPA, KRA, KBS license costs to be rationalised
- Of the existing 1,300 business licences, 150 to be eliminated and 700 simplified.

Taxation
- reduced VAT burden – any business with a turnover of less than 5 million is exempt from VAT registration
- monthly allocation for VAT refunds will go up by 46% to 900m which should cover legitimate refunds
- priority will be given to businesses who are electronic tax register (ETR) compliant. Also companies not ETR compliant after December 31 will not be allowed to recover the cost of installation from VAT and will have to foot the bill for ETR
- He will curb fake refund claim by penalising a person twice the fraudulent claim lodged and a 3 year prison term
- Motorists: No more road licenses for vehicles. This tax will be recovered from fuel charges effective tonight

Infrastructure
- Quarterly reports will be given to the public on roads progress
- 3 new roads bodies created
- Set standards for road construction and contractors who don’t meet this will be blacklisted

Sin Taxes
- All up are tax up on portable spirits, excise tax on wines and spirits and excise tax on malt beer However Excise tax removed on non malt beers i.e. Senator which will cost as little as a soda.
- Cigarettes tax up by 10%

Insurance
- Insurance tax down
- Limit to be set for accident compensation
- Brokers to remit cash immediately to insurance companies

Others
Kenyans Emigrants will be allowed to collect their full retirement benefits when they leave the country. The rest of us have to wait till 55 years to access employer’s contribution to our pension.
- bread zero rated wheat flour which should lower the price of bread
- mothers zero rated diapers napkins feeding bottles
- bicycles zero duty on unassembled bicycle imported by local assemblers. Also reduced duty on assembled ones (and motorbikes ) from 25% to 10%
- solar No import duty on solar equipment (including batteries). Also removed duty on energy saving bulbs
- computers Removed VAT on computers, parts and accessories.
- agriculture Zero rated tractor tyres and parts, transportation of agricultural produce. Also Sugar levy burden will be borne by growers not consumers after January 1. This will make cane growers more vigilant on the use of the funds.
- Youth Increased allocation for the youth ministry, polytechnic and the NYS. Also 1 youth polytechnic will be set up in each constituency
- Entertainers Kenyan ‘artistes’ in sports, music, and drama are exempted from paying VAT.

Budget 2005/06

The budget is over-rated speech, but it communicates the direction the government intends to take. As usual, it calls on MP’s to pass several bills that are crucial for the government to meet its stated goals.

Numbers
- In the Minister’s first sentence he mentioned the controversial new 4.3% economic growth rate of the country.

Higher Interest Rates
To control inflation monetary policy will be tightened to bring credit expansion to a more sustainable pace. These echoes sentiments by the Central Bank Governor who has repeatedly said that the level of bank borrowing by the private sector has been worrying, and that he intends to raise interest rates to slow it down. In March 2005, bank lending to the private sector increased by 25% and half of that was to households (compare that to a 7% decrease in lending to the government)

Donors
Expecting net external financing from both bilateral and multilateral development partners of Kshs.23.4 billion. In the event that the bilateral partners provide any budgetary support it will be used to reduce government domestic borrowing and to upscale spending on core poverty programmes. The government will borrow 25.3 billion from the domestic market this year

For Investors
- Fewer licences to start business following the abolition of 17 licences. Currently, there are about 600 licences in Kenya that directly affect trade and investments. The government will also amend 30 others.
- To encourage more investors at the Nairobi Stock Exchange, newly listed companies will pay corporation tax at a lower rate of 20%, for a period of 5 years, provided these companies offer at least 40% of their shares to the Kenyan public. (corporate tax is 30% now)
- Investment income from Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) for purposes of issuing asset backed securities will be exempt from income tax.

For Mwananchi
- Minimum income to be taxed in a year raised from 24,000 to 36,000 shillings
- No duty on medicine, diapers, sanitary pads, cooking gas coal, media containing computer software, safety belts, and speed governors,
- Beer, spirits and cigarettes up 10%
- Duty on mitumba (used clothing) be 45% or US 30 cents per kg, whichever is higher
- Maize flour, milk and kerosene will be cheaper since they will be zero-rated
- Refrigerated trucks and hotel equipment exempted from duty.

Women
A married woman can now file a separate tax return to report all her sources of income without exception. Before she could only file on certain sources of income

Car Owners
- Computation of wear and tear (depreciation) for private motor vehicles increased from 1 million to 2 million
- No duty on safety belts and speed governors
- Excise duty, which used to range from 20% to 60% will now be a flat 20% regardless of engine capacity.

Home Owners
- Mortgage interest relief increased from Kshs.100,000 to Kshs.150,000.

Government Expenses

Wages
- The Government wage bill consumes up to 40% of ordinary revenues, or over 8% of GDP.
- Wages, together with other non-discretionary expenditures such as debt service payments and pensions obligations, take up two-thirds of revenues, leaving only a third to fund priority areas.
- Minimum wage will be adjusted once every two years in line with productivity increases.

Monster Trucks
- Government will reduce expenditures on motor vehicle purchases - as a first step, the number of cars allocated to senior government officials will be restricted to two
- The Government will adopt prepaid telephone services .

Services

Governance, Law and Order
- Will release wealth declarations of public officers
- Will implement the recommendations of the Goldenberg commission once report is done and also of the land commissions.
- Also implement community policing to other urban centres
- Build 500 houses to improve the living conditions of police officers at a cost of 750 million
- Government will recruit more Magistrates and Kadhis to cope with the increased cases
- automate court registries to enhance information flows.

Banking sector
- state-owned banks will be restructured and privatised
- a SACCO Bill is under preparation
- Government will soon be tabling a Micro Finance Bill

Education
- The Government will continue to allocate the bulk of its resources, (28%) to education
- Will also redistribute teachers and redeploy resources
- Higher university fees: Universities to be made more self-reliant, to reduce their dependence on exchequer

Agriculture
- AFC, KFA and KCC will be supported, but not KMC, which is a pet project of one Minister
- Allow direct sale of Coffee outside the auction.
- Kshs.250 million allocated to facilitate revival of the cotton/textile sector to benefit from AGOA.
- Simply the exports of livestock by introducing a single permit system for cattle movement.

Infrastructure

Roads
- A 44% increase in resource allocation for public works
- Steps made to minimize bureaucratic delays
- Government will also enforce standards and quality specifications for all road maintenance and reconstruction works

Railway
- To raise investment funds necessary to improve rail services, a joint process to concession the Kenya and Uganda Railways is ongoing and is expected to be completed by December 2005.
- Government will partner with the private sector to explore the possibility of constructing railways to Sudan and Ethiopia

Air
Major modernization programme for JKIA is in progress.

Ports
Mombasa Port will be converted into a landlord port to facilitate further private sector participation in such areas as container terminal, bulk handling and conventional cargo.

ICT
- Government will facilitate development of adequate ICT capacity in the country and encourage improved ICT usage.
- Efforts will also be made to complete implementation of e-government during the year to improve service delivery and promote accountability.

Housing
Implementation of slum upgrading in partnership with UN-HABITAT and other development partners at Kibera, which will result in the construction of 600 housing units at a cost of 500 million shillings

Privatisation
- KShs.8 billion from privatization proceeds expected during the year
- Speedy enactment of the Privatisation Bill is critical to the success of reforms
- State-owned banks will be restructured and privatized.

KRA
- To reduce backlog the period to file an objection to income tax has been reduced from 60 to 30 days
- KRA will provide addresses of borrowers of student loans to universities to assist them recover loans faster
- To clear the delay in VAT refunds, KRA has been given enough resources to pay current claims
- Controversial roll out of electronic tax registers to continue
- Also continue the tax amnesty program (which netted Kshs 4.8 billion last year)

Less bureaucracy please, not more

Parliament to take the role of vetting the estimates and recommending changes before the Finance Minister reads the Budget.