CHURCHES DISPLEASURED BY PLANS TO TAX THEM

Feb 10, 2015 William Adoyo Kisumu, National, News, Regional 0

Kisumu County Churches are alleging plans by the National Government to tax churches and voiced their displeasure at the planned regulation of churches.

The county churches clergy chairperson Bishop Winnie Owiti said state plans to introduce some regulation for churches yet they were not consulted.

Bishop Owiti who heads Voice of Salvation and Healing Church in Kisumu said they will consult among themselves and come up with recommendations in regard to the regulation and tax threats.

Treasury had put on notice churches that they are the next in line to pay taxes for commercial activities that they run.

Owiti said the church is in a panic mode over planned taxation.

Addressing the press after a meeting with her fellow men of the cloth, Owiti said church goers give tax to the state and there is no need to double tax.

She said the church operates like any other charitable organization and must just be exempted from paying tax.

Although charitable organizations such as churches are tax-exempt, there are fears that they have dabbled in commercial activities, from running conference, hotels and public service vehicles.