Hello Maurice @mkhaguli
No, I did not say you insulted me. When insult is the method of choice to make a point, the point gets lost, even to governments. I am a sticker for using evidence. It could be laborious but essential. By the way, the world is a witness to the limited power of insult as the supposed leading power of the free world has become a vexatious matter to sane person world-wide.
You raise very important issues, each one weighty in its own right and pertinent to all the AU Member States. Ghanaian, Sierra Leone Diasporas, etc. are saying exactly the same thing when their contributions are not properly reflected in nation building.
My presentations/points are deliberative rhetoric to expand the discourse and aimed at those who can decide on a course of action: Members of the Diaspora and Representatives of Governments with a focus on possible consequences - will it be useful or counterproductive? Sometimes, as they say, you take only your best case to the Supreme Court because the favorable or unfavorable verdict applies to the whole jurisdiction. Kenyan Diaspora situation can make a very good case for the rest of Africa.
I approach the topic as one of parity/equity where Diaspora residents are treated to standards that place them at a disadvantage, which is discriminatory and punitive, and even presents undue hardship. The instances would even be ironical.
With the examples of remittance and the contrasting examples of the countries you used, I am afraid they can easily be shut down because they do not illustrate unique hindrances besetting Kenyan Diaspora. They are pervasive concerns in the Kenyan/African citizenry in the Kenya/Diaspora.
Second, the Diaspora is a mirror of home politics, not a breed apart from it. Can the Diaspora rise to redirect the conversation on ideas and visions? If not, how can it complain with straight face?
Just as African leaders collectively engage in practices that affect Diaspora residents from Member States, it it not timely enough for Diaspora residents with the same issues to collectively address same with potentially better results? For example, when they all run to China, as they did last week, get the loans - when there is no return on investments from the loans, who pays? The people through increased taxes, too!
If your read through the end, I am with you on the unfairness to the Diaspora but using different rationales.
I) I do not think using remittance to make a point for double taxation would not cut it. I consider it a weak argument because Kenyans, and other Africans, at home pay taxes and bank transaction fees, but they still take care of their families and invest in both the formal and informal sectors of the economies. Experts agree that more than two-third of remittance is sent through informal means that are not taxed. I think the Diaspora should focus on cutting down the fee to transmit funds. If the African Institute for Remittances was working, African governments would be better off with the reduced fee going to developments. Right now the bulk of the money goes to multinational companies or private pockets.
The global average cost of sending $200 (about Sh20,012) was 7.1 per cent in the first quarter of 2018, and sub-Saharan Africa remains the most expensive place to send money to on the average cost of 9.4 per cent. It can be cut down to even 1.5% and collected at any bank.
Let me use Sierra Leone, which you mentioned. Incidentally, a group called Sierra Leone Policy Watch, led by Jesmed F. Suma, once proposed a Sierra Diaspora tax as a measure of Diaspora participation and voting.
My point on the Kenyan Diaspora tax is: how is the government going to do this when it finds it extra hard to implement Overseas Voting Rights after the Supreme Court ruling? It is going to start by taxing those areas that voted since it could figure out the mechanism?
When Kenyan Diaspora, as other Diasporas, send goods back home, they are taxed at seaports but those same goods transported from one area to the other are not. These are the sorts of parity issues if all must pay tax but the citizens rights are unequal. Diaspora residents have limited time, usually scheduled around their vacations, and emergency is worse, to take care of business back home. But the wait time and bribery time are prohibitive - yet governments talk about coming home to invest. We can look at other areas where the Diaspora is expected to pay/contribute but with limited or no benefit but hassle unlimited.
2) Kenya and Kenyan Diaspora are not worse off than the rest. I will use the countries you named. The point is a need for collective action.
Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, a Diaspora resident before he got into the contest, had to renounce his US citizenship to contest for the presidency of Sierra Leone in March 2018. He came second and is now a Member of Sierra Leone Parliament. He toured the Diaspora last month to say "thank you" to his Diaspora supporters.
Some African presidents and cabinet members have dual citizenship. The law is unevenly applied.
Ghanaian Diaspora sued the government of Ghana on Representation of the People's Amendment Law (ROPAL). The issue was discussed head-on by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during the Ghanian Diaspora Homecoming in July 2017. He said his administration was ready to engage the Electoral Commission on the implementation of ROPAL, regardless of the outcome of the lawsuit, to ensure the full participation of Ghanaians living in the Diaspora in the country's political and economic activities. This pledge was in the party's 2016 manifesto during the presidential contests. Ghana, like Sierra Leone, allows dual citizenship but in the same Diaspora boat without Overseas Voting Rights (OVR).
On Liberia, it has neither dual citizenship nor OVR. But has the distinction of a Negro Clause in its Constitution. Liberia's Nationality Laws, based on its original 1847 Constitution and included in subsequent revisions, indicates that only people of the Negro (black) race can be citizens. Of the race-based citizenship, one cannot even become a Senator when the person has not resided three whole years immediately prior to his or her election, be an inhabitant of the county which he or she represents, and the person must own an unencumbered (without debt) real estate of not less value than one thousand two hundred dollars in the County. The person must be at least twenty-five years.
So you may as well forget the Liberia in the list of better off. Charles Taylor must have escaped from the US; Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf must have decamped from the US; and current President George Weah musy have ended his football career abroad time enough to qualify. The current President is advocating for the removal of the Negro Clause.
But as Liberia Diaspora advocates for both dual citizenship and OVR, does the lack of either or more dim commitment to home? No. It reflects the citizenry in Liberia and much of Africa. Sure, African governments must do more to incentivize citizen efforts, which uplift the country and reduce miseries. But the people do not wearily tick off a list and give up. So is the Diaspora. They fend for the families and contribute otherwise.
Listen to Binyah C. Kesselly, former Commissioner of Liberia Maritime Authority. In August 2018, he served as the keynote speaker at the 18th Presidential Inaugural and Fundraising Ball of the Liberian Community Association of North New Jersey, USA. He admonished Liberian communities in the United States to muster the courage and take responsibility and charge of their own country, despite the current challenges. He said: "Liberia is our common patrimony and begs the involvement of all. We must find solutions to our problems. We must lift Liberia up; we must stop denigrating the country, its leaders and its people. We must engage those in authority, we must hold them accountable. We must show them respect, we must support them in those endeavors that build a might nation, and if need be, we must challenge them, when they do not put Liberia first."
Sensible governments will be doing more to leverage the people's capacity. But the people keep the spirit.... not waiting for government as the quest continues for better governance.
Uganda Diaspora is reflective of the increasing norm with governments engaging the residents , including the semi-autonomous Kingdoms like Buganda and Toro. Uganda recognizes dual citizenship but no OVR. Protest by the Diaspora in becoming a skilled weapon that even the best of hired Western lobbyists cannot help the governments in image burnishing. For example, some Uganda Diaspora members have been vocal in sensitizing the case of MP Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) to bring more international attention to human rights conditions in Uganda. Mr Kyagulanyi allegedly led the group that took to Kampala streets to protest against the new Shs200 daily on social media and the 1% mobile money tax. It affects the Diaspora, too.
Kenya Diaspora is by no means constrained by government if it wishes to demonstrate any manner of displeasure. However, the internal factionalizing would be reflective of home alliances as the next example.
Chad recognizes dual citizenship and grants OVR. It presents another angle. There were over 13 opposition parties that vied to unseat current President Idriss Déby in the 2016 election. The factional lines would be reflected in the Diaspora. So Chadian Diaspora would be nothing more than a picture of home politics.
These compare with Kenya and Kenya Diaspora. The Kikuyus and the Kalenjins, at home and abroad, are more likely to support Jubilee than the Luos; just like the white Pentecostal in the South are a religious base of Republicans.
But it is also true that both Jubilee and the National Super Alliance (NASA) have persons of eminence from ethnic groups mostly associated with the other camp.
Jubilee and Nasa supporters living in the US and elsewhere have been sharply apart. For example, while Nasa supporters were vocal in embracing the swearing-in and the establishment of people's assemblies as their means to advance electoral justice, their Jubilee counterparts frowned on move as deviant acts that were likely to plunge the country into mayhem.
"The Kenyan community in Diaspora that demands real democracy in Kenya supports the creation of People's Assemblies and the swearing-in of Raila Odinga who won the August 8, 2017 election. These moves will take power from corrupt cartels and place it into the people's hands where it constitutionally belongs," A statement issued by Nasa USA Diaspora Team said.
Jubilee supporters countered with a released a statement saying: "This clearly is a calculated move by the opposition coalition Nasa to cause chaos in the country and neither the government nor Kenyans of good will should allow it to take place. This is the reason why many of us in Diaspora oppose it and want to distance ourselves from it".
The ethnic card plays in other arenas. For examples: In October 2017, Samuel Arama, Nakuru West MP, threatened to move to court to stop the vetting of 10 County Executive Committee nominees. He accused Governor Lee Kinyanjui of forming a cabinet that is not inclusive. "It is unfair for the Governor not to give a cabinet position to Kisiis, Luhyas and Luos, he said.
In October 2017, Governor Paul Chepkwony of Kericho and Governor Anyang Nyong'o of Kisumu urged Luos and Kalenjins to take steps including intermarriage to achieve process of peace and development. Not on ideas and visions.
In July 2018, FORD-Kenya Party Leader, Moses Wetangula ( Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2008 to 2010 and from 2011 to 2012, and he was Minister for Trade from 2012 to 2013 and current Bungoma Senator), a former member of the NASA Alliance, pushed back at former co-principal, Raila Odinga (Luo) of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) which called him a coward for claiming that the NASA coalition was 'dead'.
In his outrage, Wetangula tweeted and accused ODM leader Raila Odinga of tribalism and using his party members to attack him."Instead of responding to issues of appointments from his tribe, the ODM leader is using upstart surrogates to hurl abuses at Wetangula. Very unhelpful," the tweet read.
The point I making is that Africa is yet to wean itself from pure ethnic politics in public affairs; it is not a Diaspora issue; it is reflective of it or a product of it. So how can the Diaspora summon the courage to rise and direct public issue far above tribal lines with visions that cut across ethnic lines? It would leap African forward when we agree or disagreeing on ideas.
I am not disagreeing with you on unreasonable taxation or tribal matters. I acknowledge them but methods of redress may be different.
Best and God Bless.
MsJoe
To Lead You Must be a Servant
-----Original Message-----
From: khaguli maurice mkhaguli@yahoo.com [uchunguzionline] <uchunguzionline@yahoogroups.com>
To: uchunguzionline <uchunguzionline@yahoogroups.com>; uchunguzionline <uchunguzionline@yahoogroups.com>; progressive-kenyans <progressive-kenyans@googlegroups.com>; kenya-diaspora <kenya-diaspora@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wed, Sep 12, 2018 9:52 am
Subject: Re: [uchunguzionline] Jubilee regime to Tax kemyans in Diaspora
From: khaguli maurice mkhaguli@yahoo.com [uchunguzionline] <uchunguzionline@yahoogroups.com>
To: uchunguzionline <uchunguzionline@yahoogroups.com>; uchunguzionline <uchunguzionline@yahoogroups.com>; progressive-kenyans <progressive-kenyans@googlegroups.com>; kenya-diaspora <kenya-diaspora@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wed, Sep 12, 2018 9:52 am
Subject: Re: [uchunguzionline] Jubilee regime to Tax kemyans in Diaspora
Ms joe21st,
I have never insulted you anywhere in the history of PK. Its very wrong of you to start with. Anyway, first; I am sure you are aware most of West African brutal dictators have been brought down by diaspora. From Ghana to Sierra Leone, Chad, Liberia to name a few.....in kenya and Uganda is quite different but, in Kenya, diaspora is very very popular than the corrupt and the criminals in power. They've legally organized themselves where the diaspora has no political power chance. You can not even politik for governorship and if you succeed as an MP, you can not expose your other identity like that former MP from Garissa who had an Australian citizenship. We can not even successfully work and contribute in the most sensitive government agencies like IEBC, central bank, or become a CS etc. If you don't, you have to be lucky and from the right tribe or close to th ose in power yet we contribute more than tourism to Kenya economy. So, targeting diaspora to pay tax is a plus for jubilee right now. It will raise a lot without diaspora feeling the tax itself. Remember, when you wire funds from abroad from your account to your account In Kenya, already the government is taxing you. It only happen when the cash arrive in your bank in Kenya etc...that's what the government want to extend to smaller amount that is remitted through Mpesa. It will be a double tax. Diaspora Tax and the already existing mpesa tax. The receiver will be recieving less all the time regardless . Thanks
We stand to emphasize the truth, truth is one!
On Wed, 12 Sep 2018 at 5:33 AM, MsJoe21St@aol.com [uchunguzionline]<uchunguzionline@yahoogroups.com> wrote:Don't just insult. Discuss the pro and con. What would be the upside? Kenyans are sophisticated. How can the government impose this Diaspora tax without a democratic and reliable voting right for all Kenyans living outside Kenya? How would the government figure out the logistics to tax without first figuring out the logistic to vote after the Supreme court ruling?
Is there a bar for Kenyan Diaspora residents to nap the highest offices in the land? Like Somalia did last year, it would be interesting to get some recent badass Diasporan veterans as Heads of States in Africa to bridge the reality gap among other sane issues where insanity prevails.
Rational discourse helps. This could be a star decis.....as legal people say: legal precedent.
MsJoe
To Lead You Must be a Servant
-----Original Message-----
From: khaguli maurice mkhaguli@yahoo.com [uchunguzionline] <uchunguzionline@yahoogroups.com>
To: Progressive-kenyans <progressive-kenyans@googlegroups.com>; Uchunguzi Online <uchunguzionline@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tue, Sep 11, 2018 8:01 pm
Subject: [uchunguzionline] Jubilee regime to Tax kemyans in Diaspora
We can now reveal Kenya population in diaspora will be subjected to a new Tax that Treasury and CS Rotich has proposed. A bill will be presented in the parliament in the coming weeks. The mtu wetu syndrome is live strong. It's going to take long before kenyans both at home and in diaspora wake up and tell criminal Uhuru to go to hell. Right now, it's every man for himself because the unintended punishment on diaspora population is going to be felt through increased "Dollar flow Tax" because, jubilee criminals are expecting an increase in diaspora remittance back home. No doubt, the two vicious thieves at state house, want Kenyans in diaspora to share the pinch of financial mess the two have inflicted upon the country. Those who owns properties and businesses at home are going to be hit hard.We stand to emphasize the truth, truth is one!
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