MPs oppose high levies on traders

By ERIC WAINAINA

The controversy over the Kiambu County Finance Bill has re-emerged after legislators joined traders in attacking the county government for charging high rates.

Kiambu Town MP Jude Njomo and his Githunguri counterpart Njoroge Baiya said some of the rates that were set in the County Finance Act, especially on traders and farmers, were exorbitant.

The Bill was signed into law by Governor William Kabogo after its adoption by the county assembly and its implementation has begun, sparking protests.

Njomo who was speaking at Ting’ang’a, said the county had slapped steep rates on traders, which he said could easily kick traders out of business.

“We have a situation where banana farmers were paying Sh10 per bunch but that has been hiked to Sh30, which is too high for low-income earners. The county needs revenue for development but they should charge reasonable rates,” he said.

And speaking separately in Ngewa in Githunguri, Mr Baiya said the levies charged on milk farmers are too high and asked the county government to reconsider them.

The Act charges 50 cents per every litre of milk of produced by farmers across the county.