Stop taxing already burdened Kenyans

By {Job Momanyi, Nairobi}

The county governments can do better than just tax the already overtaxed Kenyans in an effort to raise revenue.

By now, I think that Kenyans are among the most heavily taxed beings on earth.

The county governments were embraced as a way of bringing services closer to the people and making their lives better by creating jobs.

However, what we have seen in some counties is worrying.

Kenyans are being warned that they will be taxed for dying, slaughtering animals, passing with certain goods through certain counties (never mind that the goods are not illegal) and a myriad other things.

The insinuation is that the management of the counties do not have very bright ideas on how to raise revenue, attract investors and create jobs.

The County Assembly members have not done any better. They have downed tools in a clamour for higher pay, having taken the cue from their National Assembly counterparts whom they often quote to justify their demands.

So far, legislation in the counties has come to a halt but the honourable members continue to get their salaries.

Cases of governors demanding big gas guzzlers for themselves and their Cabinet are not uncommon, as are those of bloated workforce that ends up eating up all revenue, leaving little if any for development.

This includes duplication of duties being performed currently by central government.

In the long run, the counties may become a burden to the citizens.