Nassir waives Sh765m in levies for traders to boost businesses

Governor Abdulswamad Nassir has exempted traders in the town from paying Sh765 million in taxes they owe the county government in a bid to revive businesses in Mombasa.

Speaking yesterday, Nassir said he had waived the taxes as a measure to motivate the businessmen who have been having problems with county government officials due to the accumulated taxes they were unable to pay because of the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The affected businessmen including traders at Kongowea, public service vehicle owners and other businessmen will start paying the levies from this month, and will not be asked to pay the arrears.

"We are starting afresh and that is why I ordered that every businessman must register in the new system so that they do not pay what they owed the previous regime," said Nassir.

He made the remarks on Saturday while briefing the media on pledges he made during his campaigns to be elected as Mombasa governor.

"I have waived Sh765 million as taxes owed to the county by all traders so that we can start paying afresh," said Nassir.

He said even motorists in the town who had been e-clamped have also been exempted from paying the accumulated debts they owe the county government.

"Nobody should be e-clamped but should register afresh in the new system so that they can start fresh payment minus the past debts," said Nassir

Nassir who was accompanied by County's Finance Executive Marriam Abubakar asked every trader to take the advantage of his amnesty and register afresh with the county.

He said he wanted to make life easy for traders in the town and that was why had waived all debts owed to the County government.

The Governor also promised to reduce taxes being levied on the traders to reduce the burden of paying taxes which they can use as profit to spur up their business.

He however warned traders against defaulting on the reduced cost of licenses as it will incur a punitive penalty.

Further, Nassir revealed that he had instructed the county finance department to furnish him with information so that he can gazette the directives as was required by the law after informing the County Assembly Parliament.

The governor appealed to the traders to ensure they were registered in the new system so that after making payment, they would receive a sticker electronically sent to their phones for public service vehicles.

The electronic levy system has been introduced to limit human contact with county employees in a bid to put a stop to corruption.