Homa Bay governor promises trade-friendly taxation

By James Omoro

Homa Bay, Kenya: The business community in Homa Bay County is set to have it easier following plans by the executive to reduce the cost of obtaining trade licenses.

Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti said his government was preparing a Finance Bill aimed at reducing the cost of obtaining the trade permits.

Addressing the business community at a Homa Bay hotel, Awiti expressed concern that the high cost of obtaining trade licenses had been an obstacle to many people who wanted to start businesses and hence jeopardised economic growth in the county.

“I have noted with concern the manner in which high taxation is thwarting the endeavours of our people to start business. We want to ensure trade licenses are affordable to our businesspersons in the Finance Bill,” Awiti said.

Key pillars

The Governor said business was one of the key pillars of economic growth in Homa Bay County and assured locals that his government was committed to creating an enabling environment for trade.

“Devolution did not come to make people spend more, but to improve their living standards. Let us always have dialogue on what you think is likely to hinder your operations,” Awiti said.

Deputy Governor Hamilton Orata told locals to invest in trade as a way of solving the unemployment crisis in the county.

Orata said trade had made many people millionaires and that there was no reason for people to suffer from unemployment if there were opportunities for starting businesses. “Business is the engine of this county and that is why we consider the business community our employers. Our work as a government is to eradicate obstacles that can hinder your operations and I want to encourage our people to make use of this sector,” said Mr Orata.

Illegal immigrants

The business community had complained over the high rate of taxation for those who needed trade licenses.

Meanwhile, the crackdown on illegal immigrants has trickled down to Homa Bay County, with police arresting 100 suspected aliens.

In the crackdown dubbed Operation Usalama Watch, 106 aliens have been arrested in Homa Bay and Mbita towns as well as Nyandiwa Township in Suba Sub County in the last one week.

Addressing the Press in his office, Homa Bay County Police Commander Gabriel Musau said the majority of the aliens were Somalis while others came from Tanzania and Ethiopia.

“The suspects were arrested in an operation that is done with a human face. I want our people to understand that we are not targeting any community in this operation. It is meant to enhance security in this county,” Musau said, adding that 14 suspects had been taken to court for being in the country illegally.

Others were released after being vetted in an exercise that was carried out by sub-county security committees, which comprise the police and officers from the departments of Immigration and Registration of Persons.

The local police boss said the influx of illegal emigrants in Homa Bay had been orchestrated by the crackdown on terrorists being carried out in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

“We have found out that many immigrants are now moving to the countryside because they think that is where they are likely to get peace after the crackdown in Nairobi and Mombasa. The illegal immigrants who have been taken to court will reveal their motives,” said Mr Musau.

He called on locals to report any suspicious people to the police, especially during this Easter holiday season.