Employees raise alarm over increased illegal charges

By BONIFACE GIKANDI

Murang’a,Kenya: Bars and hotels in Murang’a County have raised complaints over the high rates charged for the acquisition of food handling certificates and typhoid vaccines.

Speaking through their representative, the Hotels and Bar Workers Association, they said the charges as proposed in the county’s Finance Bill were illegal as the Bill is yet to become law. 

James Waweru, the Murang’a County Bar Owners Association chairman said the charges are illegal as long as the Bill is yet to undergo all legislative steps.

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“It is true that we are being issued with receipts for those charges but we want an assurance that this are genuine receipts since a government cannot perpetrate an illegality,” said Mr Waweru.

He claimed that the Department of Public Health has increased charges of acquiring the certificates to Sh2,500 up from Sh1,500.

Previously, the employees who are among the lowest paid cadre in the job market used to spend Sh400 for a medical food handling certificate, which has been raised to Sh1,000.

The certificate is renewable after every six months and the charges for the same will remain illegal even if the Bill is passed because the same provides a one year charge rather than one that lasts six months.

Other increased charges include typhoid vaccine at Sh1,000 from the previous Sh600. Charges for obtaining a laboratory certificate have remained unchanged at Sh500.

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County Director of Public Health Paul Kamau said the typhoid vaccine certificate is renewable every three years.

Kamau referred The Standard to County Secretary for Health and Water Services Dr Susan Muthoni for further information on the charges but by the time of going to press, she had not returned our call and text messages.

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illegal charges