ODM Senator Initiates Move to Exempt Some Parents From Paying Tax

Nominated Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Senator Crystal Asige has initiated the process of exempting some parents from paying taxes.

This followed the tabling of the Persons With Disabilities Bill, 2023 amendment to the Senate on Wednesday, February 21.

Asige in her new clause to the Persons With Disabilities Bill, 2023 wants the national government to exempt parents and legal guardians of persons with disabilities from paying taxes.

In her argument, she indicated that the limit should be those within the Ksh150,000 income bracket. She also proposed that such parents receive a Ksh10,000 monthly stipend through a social protection programme.

“ The Cabinet Secretary for finance may, on application, grant an income tax exemption certificate of up to Ksh150,000 to a parent or legal guardian of a person with severe disability," it read in part.

“A parent or legal guardian who is indigent and assumes custody as the full-time caregiver of such person with severe disability may apply to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Protection to be granted access to the monthly cash transfer programmes with a minimum of 10,000 Kenya shillings,” the bill reads in part.

To ascertain the qualifications, Asige further proposed a medical assessment to verify the severity of the disability.

The amendment is however still in the Senate. If passed and approved by President William Ruto, it will become law giving retrieve to parents with children living with severe disabilities.

ODM party congratulated Asige noting that her amendment is transformational to the country. The party lobbied its members to support the Bill.

"Congratulations Senator Crystal Asige⁩ for pushing to have the Senate pass a clause that if enacted into law and assented to by the President, parents who provide home-based care to their children with disabilities will be exempted from tax. This is a milestone."