The Parklands Diary

  Image from Pexels by Nataliya Vaitkevich Taxation is anchored on the four canons of equity, certainty, convenience, and economy. Equity calls for the burden of taxation to be distributed fairly, while certainty ensures taxes are determined by law, avoiding arbitrariness. Convenience demands that taxes be levied in a manner that is least burdensome to the taxpayer, and the econom y emphasizes keeping the cost of tax collection low. Adam Smith argued that these four canons should form the foundation of a country's taxation regime, applied holistically, like instruments in an orchestra. No one instrument takes precedence, but together, they create a harmonious symphony—in the case of taxation, that harmony is economic prosperity. Unfortunately, in recent years, the Kenyan government has refused to draw from Adam Smith’s fountain of wisdom, embarking on what can only be described as a taxation extravaganza. Taxes have been imposed on everything and anything, leaving a trail of eco...