Should counties stop collecting daily levies from small traders?

To cushion small traders, counties should stop collecting levies.  Women selling vegetables at the markets can hardly make enough money to fend for their children.

There are few buyers because most people opt to stay indoors as urged by the government in order to stem spread of coronavirus. It is ridiculous for the counties to compel mama mboga to pay Sh50 daily levy without considering the circumstances. 

The small businesses are struggling and levies must be waived until the situation improves. Counties also ought to suspend all other activities and focus on addressing the effects of Covid-19, which is a major threat to our economy and lives. Counties should start thinking about how to provide food to the people who can’t afford a meal, at least until coronavirus is managed.

In fact, traders deserve incentives that will help them remain afloat during and even after the pandemic. Counties, being centres of development, must realise that these struggling traders contribute a huge percentage in economic development of the devolved units.

It paints a grim picture when county askaris go for mama mboga because she has not paid the daily levy, even when these small traders have not sold anything. Boda boda riders are a worried lot because most private and public offices have allowed employees to work from home.

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Mr Olengo is a former MCA, Namamali ward in Kakamega County