The cost of importing fish into the country could rise at a rate of 20 per cent of the customs value, should a new proposal by Alego Usonga Member of Parliament, Samuel Atandi, sail through.
The proposal, filed on Friday, March 31, sought to introduce a Bill to amend the First Schedule of the Excise Duty Act, 2015.
According to the legislator, fish imports from China retailed at cheaper prices than local fish hence affecting small-scale traders in the country.
He added that the importation of cheap fish potentially led to the loss of employment in the fish industry which approximately employs 1.2 million people directly and indirectly through fishing, fish farming and sale.
"This duty is charged at the rate specified in the First Schedule for the excisable goods or services in force at the time the liability arises for excise duty," the statement read in part.
According to section 5 of the Excise Duty Act, excise duty is charged in Kenya on excisable goods manufactured in Kenya by a licensed manufacturer, excisable services supplied in Kenya by a licensed person or excisable goods imported into the country.
Data from the State Department of Fisheries indicated that the value of Chinese fish grew to a historic high of Ksh2 billion as of December last year.
In addition, the country shipped 14.8 million kilograms of fish from China in 2021, valued at Ksh2 billion. This indicated growth from Ksh1.5 billion
The figures showed that China's market share increased from 70 percent in 2020 to 83 percent in 2021.
With its dominance in the market, China edged out fierce competition from countries such as South Korea, Thailand, Uganda and Tanzania.
At the moment, China is regarded as Kenya's largest source of imports for household goods as well as electronics.
