Ruto disowns finance Bill and reverts to old levies

Traders offload sacks of Sukuma Wiki from a truck at the Kongowea market in Mombasa on January 17, 2014. Food prices at the market have risen sharply on dry weather earlier in the year. PHOTO | FILE

What you need to know:

  • He said after looking at the Bill, he had realised that the purported new levies were abnormally high and would force most traders out of business
  • The traders complained that the county government was demanding levies on every section of their premises, including verandas

The Bomet county government suspended Finance Bill 2013 and reverted to the old levies local traders were being charged.

Governor Isaac Ruto, on Wednesday, said the executive committee and county assembly had unanimously agreed to withdraw the Bill.

Mr Ruto, who was speaking at Bomet Green Stadium during a meeting with trader, questioned where those implementing the “illegal levies” had got the authority from.

He said after looking at the Bill, he had realised that the purported new levies were abnormally high and would force most traders out of business.

The governor said he had recommended that traders such as vegetable vendors should be exempted from paying levies, but was surprised to find that they were expected to pay huge fees.

“My wish as governor is to see traders grow and empower themselves economically and not be oppressed through unrealistic charges,” he said.

“To spur the county’s economic growth, taxes must be paid but should not be too high to drive traders out of business,” he added.

He assured business people who had paid the new levies that their money would be refunded.

The traders complained that the county government was demanding levies on every section of their premises, including verandas.

The suspension of the Finance Bill follows last Friday’s peaceful demonstration by traders in protest against the new levies.

The protest was organised by the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Bomet branch.

They had also claimed that some of the revenue collectors at the county government were allegedly negotiating with some traders and went ahead and charged them different levies from the ones recommended.