Former Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo on Tuesday, October 15, made a passionate plea to President Kenyatta urging him to ensure that the Kenya Revenue Authority does not get a means to tax Kipchoge's winnings.
Speaking on AM Live on NTV, Jakoyo expressed fear that if KRA got access to Kipchoge's winnings, they would misappropriate it for their own benefit.
He instead asked the president to ensure that Kipchoge was granted leeway to distribute the money in whichever way he deemed fit.
"Uhuru, please, don't let KRA touch the Ksh400 million that he got because it is going to be stolen. Instead, let him donate to a charity of his wish," he stated.
Talking to the show host Olive Burrows, Midiwo had complained that Kenyans had been exposed to so much sorrow and worry that none of them would go to bed with anything to rejoice about being Kenyan.
He, however, stated that on Saturday, the entire country was treated to a historic run that broke the gloomy atmosphere in the country, driving citizens into a celebratory mood after Kipchoge accomplishment.
He opened up that emotions overwhelmed him when he saw Kipchoge cross the finish line during the INEOS 1:59 run where Kipchoge ran for 42-kilometres in less than 2 hours (1.59.40), making him the greatest long-distance runner in history.
"When Eliud Kipchoge crossed that line, I felt so good I cried. It is nice to watch a Kenyan achieve something," he narrated.
He echoed the recommendations from Rarieda Member of Parliament Otiende Amollo who had also recommended that Kipchoge should be awarded a tax break, given the achievement and the glory he had brought to the country.
The Kenya Revenue Authority taxes the winnings of athletes after every race, an issue that has generated friction between the agency and the athletes.
In 2018, complaints by the athletes were rife that they were being taxed in the countries in which the athletic events were held and their winnings taxed again when they came back to Kenya.
This led to a meeting between the athletes and KRA Deputy Commissioner in-charge of North Rift region Kevin Safari in Iten, Elgeyo-Marakwet county in an attempt to iron out the issue.
After the meeting, the athletics body and the taxman agreed that athletes who had been taxed abroad would be given tax breaks in the country, but on a case by case basis.
