Kenya will, as of effect in 2017, increase the tax on cosmetics by 10% which will enable about 300 shillings to be collect by the government, to beautify other much needed areas in their country (other than their own women it seems).
Africa today sees a lot of money being thrown around for make-up, which by the end of day, gets washed up down the drain. From the simple lipstick to the fancydab powder, it seems that the price to pay for beauty is getting higher daily for Kenyan women, we might just see an outcry for wagies and salaries from them in the future.
With all the plush things Africa as a whole consumes and does very little to edify us in any way, why not increase the tax and have you think twice before buying that small tin of nose powder.
I guess it makes sense if you look at it. The Kenyan government is tired of seeing made up faces or shall I say, covered up faces of their women and would prefer less make up?
Psst, between you and me, I guess one of these law making guys was disappointed the morning after, after all the make up was gone and realised how he had been tricked.
On a serious note, I truly believe the money can be better used elsewhere to feed or better someone’s life. A part of me wants to believe they could have pegged it even higher, seeing that we are a continent struggling with all sorts and need all the resources we can get, collectively. Make-up is the least of our needs and if you do feel naked when you dont put it on, then why not add to the collection everytime you buy for yourself or wife (seeing that it can’t really change your looks it might change other things).
I have been privileged to meet a lot of working class women in Africa and have seen the many women persuaded into buying tonnes of make-up to better their looks when the greatest concoction of all would be a jog down the street, a couple of squats in the evening and a good old apple known since time to scare aware every little blemish on their face.
To my many African lady friends, that notion seems to work only on Baywatch lady life guards. They can only watch the Braxtons work out but never see themselves do it. In a country like South Africa, such a tax could do major progress to countless number of issues which seem not to have a solution at all such as droughts and poverty. We can do well if we can add a tax on polygamy as well. While in countries such as Zimbabwe, I would suggest a much higher tax (though I fear it might be an opportunity for a luxirous mansion to one kleptocrat).
Women here are well apt on the right kind of lipstick to wear while blind to their costs annually. They have been known to go for days without food while dressed in cologne and powder.
According to the Standard Newspaper, “Kenya’s cosmetics industry is estimated to be worth 6.4bn Kenyan shillings [$63m, £43m] meaning the anticipated collections could be more than 300m shillings.’
Imagine what could be done to the poor rural child who barely knows how to put on lipstick but yearns for an opportunity to sit on comfortable bench at school. Or what this money can do to a girl who finds it hard to take care of herself during her monthly periods. This is why I see this being one of the greatest ideas in African law making ever. Why not even tax more!
With distinctive lines between the poor and rich in Africa, I rally behind this notion and pray to see higher taxes wedged on the ‘haves’ as they drive their fancy cars down the street or while they go boat cruising in in a village where they hardly have water. Such is life I guess.
While I cannot sit here and pretend that it is someone’s right to wear what they want and rightfully so, since you worked hard for it, you should be able to wear it. I guess the moral of my sorry is that, you can really do without it, but if you insist, hey, why not lend a helping hand to someone else in the process, like the homeless guy you pass by on your way to work every morning, who can see his reflection on the gloss gleaming from your lips.
This #lipsticktax is a great idea to my African home. Its yet another chance to understand that we really don’t need expensive weaves, pencils and lashes to make us any better than we already are. We are damaging the very beauty we are so proudly blessed with while using these self destructing potions and well marketed lotions that seem to work only on the chipanzees they were tested on.
I give a thumbs to every kinky or dread locked african beauty I come across with. I hail the many women that I see using less make up and trusting in their own God-given beauty. Women who, if not happy with the way their look, do not depend on a pill but sweat and tears to tone up. A situation I forsee happening in Kenya come 2017.