Business licences to be merged, says Nassir

Chairman Kenya National chamber of commerce and Industry--Mombasa, Mustafa Ramadhan [left] with Mombasa Governor--elect, Abdulswamad Nassir during dinner organized by the chamber to Mombasa businessmen on September 3, 2022.[Omondi Onyango,Standard]

All trade licences in Mombasa will be consolidated into one to reduce bureaucracies, which to enhance the ease of doing business and reduce corruption, Governor-elect Abdulswamad Nassir has said.

""My first agenda in Mombasa is revive the economy of the county to ensure the town becomes a business hub where businessmen enjoy doing business without being exposed to many problems," said Nassir during a round table meeting with the business community.

He said his administration will not rely on multi-business licences to grow its local revenue, adding that he will use his experience as a former legislator to bring changes in Mombasa.

"Many licenses being imposed on the people have made it difficult to do business in the city because most of the businesses were not making profit. I want to ensure the businesspeople pay the licences depending on the profits they were making instead of forcing them to pay what makes them incur losses," said Nassir.

Nassir, who was accompanied by Kenya National Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) Mombasa branch chairman Mustafa Ramadhan, said he will also address the issue of garbage, which has become an eyesore.

Nassir promised to ensure economic growth in the city to create employment opportunities.

Nassir said he will also fast track the auditing and payment of Sh4.29 pending bills to enable suppliers to continue with their businesses.

He said the county government will also enter into a partnership with a lending institution to ensure county employees are paid on time to avoid disruption of service delivery.

Nassir, however, said payment of pending bills will not affect other operations as well as payment of workers who have been going without pay.

But Nassir also vowed to root out ghost workers blamed for ballooning wage bill, who according to past audit stand at over 1,000.

"I am looking forward from the businessmen in the town to work with me so that we bring development in the county for the benefit of the residents," said Nassir.

He promised that the businessmen will not be harassed by anybody as he seeks to partner with them to improve the city's economy.

The governor-elect said he will recruit a director in charge of ease of doing business, who will directly report to him.