Traders from Kiganjo, Kiambu County on Thursday, March 28, demonstrated complaining about double taxation imposed by the County Government.
According to the business owners, some of them had been forced to shut down their establishments due to the increasing cost of running them and considering the high cost of living.
While blocking roads and disrupting operations, the traders revealed that this was conducted by the county officers popularly known as Kanjos.
Per the traders, the fee had been increased from Ksh3,000 to Ksh4,500 but the services had remained similar with some even deteriorating.
They argued that their small businesses could barely meet their daily needs. This limited the funds left to pay the county levy.
"This increase has scared off some residents from starting businesses. Some of us have shut down due to the state of the economy," one of the traders stated.
Additionally, besides closing down, some business owners have been forced to fire some employees who are then left without a source of income.
Traders across the country have raised concerns about the high cost of doing business in the country due to increased taxes, high cost of living, and other factors that are pushing some Kenyans to poverty.
"We want the government to review these prices we have struggling to pay them," a trader from Thika stated.
On Saturday, March 16, traders from Mirangine sub-county, Nyandarua County also took to the streets after the county government hiked the license fees.
The business owners complained that the county offers subpar services despite the high taxes. They called upon Governor Moses Badilisha to review the charges to prevent more traders from closing down.
In Kericho County, contractors were also irked by an increase in business permits announced in January. They complained that the business permits had more than tripled, from Ksh5,000 to Ksh23,000.
To counter this, the contractors took the county to court.
The Kenya Kwanza government has been asked to intervene and keep its promises to Kenyans especially those carrying out small businesses.
