Members of the Uasin Gishu business community have expressed their reservations over the county’s decision to increase license fees.
The traders say the fees have been increased exorbitantly.
In a media briefing in Eldoret, the businesspersons said it was wrong for the county to increase licence fees beyond their ability.
“The license fees have been increased by a huge margin, some to as much as 100 per cent which is unacceptable,” said Kipkorir Menjo, the chairperson of the 64 Residents Association.
Menjo further said business persons involved in the sale of petroleum products have also been targeted in what they described as a punitive tax approach.
He noted that an individual owning several petrol stations within Eldoret town is now being asked to pay for each of them separately unlike the last financial year when payment was made once.
“Someone with a petrol station was paying Ksh45,000 for all, but he is now being asked to pay Ksh145,000 for each,” he said.
Eldoret traders: Nothing has changed but they have increased licence fees
Margaret Watanu a businesswoman said the county should stick with the arrangement where a trader’s licence is calculated based on the size of his/her business and not the number of businesses they do.
“They now want you to pay a license for grocery and M-PESA separately which has seen some people required to pay over Ksh30,000 from Ksh8,500 they paid last year,” Watanu said.
Similar sentiments were shared by James Yatich who demanded to know about the increase of licensee fees.
Yatich argues that if the new levies are implemented, many businesses will be forced to close.
“You cannot grow by killing small businesses. We want to know what has changed. If the situation is the same, then the licence fees should remain where they were or be increased reasonably,” he said.
The traders have now warned that should their cries fall on deaf ears, they will have no option but to challenge the new fees in court.
They also hinted at presenting a petition to the Uasin Gishu County Assembly over the matter.
“We did not want to go that direction but it looks like they are buying time and the only language they know is the courts,” Menjo said.
“A petition to the county assembly is also read and in due course, we will let you know,” he added.
