Kiambu County’s new bill imposes tax on farming, cleanliness

By Eric Wainaina

Nyeri, Kenya: The cost of living and dying in Kiambu County is set to increase dramatically following the introduction of new taxes.

According to the new levies, a grave for an adult will cost Sh4, 500, children Sh3, 000 and infants Sh2,500. Burial certificates will cost Sh8, 000 for citizens within the county, Sh10, 000 for those dying outside the county and Sh25, 000 for non-citizens.

Life will get harder for farmers as cultivating an acre of land will attract Sh2, 000 tax, half and quarter acre will cost Sh1, 000 and Sh500 respectively. The county government hopes to get Sh5, 000 and Sh2, 000 for clearing of a residential commercial plot respectively.

Cleanliness, which has been touted as being second to Godliness, will come at a price. Disinfestations of fleas and cockroaches per square metre on a domestic premise will cost Sh300. The bill charges Sh200 for snake eradication, Sh1, 500 for bee control and Sh300 for all types of inspection, rats, and pigeon, bats and mice destruction will cost Sh1, 500 and Sh500 on private and public premises respectively.

Operating license

A distributor of alcoholic drinks manufactured outside the county and sells at least one million litres per year will pay Sh1,000,000 to get an operating license.

Alcoholic drinks manufacturers within the county producing at least one million litres, will have to pay Sh1,000,000 while those producing between half and one million liters yearly will have to part with Sh500, 000 per brand.

To run a big high standard lodging house/ hotel with at least 100 rooms will cost between Sh50, 000 and Sh70,000 depending on the location while large night clubs with at least 50 customers will pay Sh25, 000 to Sh50, 000.

Mega private higher learning institutions ranging from a private university college or higher education institution with over 200 students will pay Sh30, 000 to Sh70, 000 while private health hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, providing over 30 beds overnight Will pay Sh30, 000 to Sh 50,000.

Collect revenue

The Bill submitted by the Executive Committee Member for Finance and Planning has been forwarded to the assembly Finance committee and explains how the county expects to collect the revenue to supplement its Sh13 million budget. The county has a Sh7 billion deficit it hopes to fill with these taxes.

A couple planning to wed or hold entertainment events will pay Sh12, 000 to hire a town hall  or a social hall per day and the same will apply to those hiring the same for commercial use.

Already the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kiambu chapter has written to the assembly protesting the proposed fee saying they are ‘punitive and may negate the idea of spurning growth of business and social sectors in the county’.

The letter dated October 14 and signed by the county organisation chairman Samuel Warwathe says residents were never involved or consulted on the matter.

Clergymen will give Sh5, 000 per day to hold crusades at open air grounds while local football teams will be required to pay Sh15, 000 to play in a public stadium.

Slaughtering a cow will cost a Sh400, Sh150 for sheep/goats and Sh20 for chicken while market fee for the same animals will go for Sh500, 200 and30 respectively. A farmer will pay the county government Sh4, 000 for disposal of a load of dead animal such as cows and Sh400 for hens if an Appropriation Financial Bill by the executive is adopted.

Exorbitant

A milk farmer will part with Sh1 per litre of milk as cess, coffee, tea and pineapple farmers will remit 2 per cent of the market price while traders will remit a specified amount depending on their goods and the amount they sell. The Bill charges from minor services under the public health such as Sh2, 000 for snake eradication, Sh1, 500 for bee control and Sh3, 000 for all types of inspection.

Locals have protested saying the fees in the proposed Bill are uncalled for, exorbitant and want the County Assembly not to approve it.

Governor William Kabogo has defended the Bill, saying only a massive revenue collection will bring development in the vast county. Kabogo said the county does not have development fuds since the Sh6 billion given by the national government is only enough the pay workers salaries.