You drive a jalopy? Keep off Machakos County

By Standard Team

Kenya: If you own a vehicle that emits a cloud of black smoke, you are better advised not to venture in Machakos County, as it will cost you dearly.

You will be slapped with a fine of Sh10,000 for polluting the air by driving a “dirty” vehicle.

An equal fine will be charged for noise pollution. So, noisy street shops and preachers have been put on notice.

To protect the environment, anyone caught dumping waste into rivers will be fined Sh200,000.

And shop owners will have a duty to ensure cleanliness within 10-metre radius of their premises. Those who fail will cough a fine of Sh5,000.

The tough measures are contained in a Bill recently signed into law by Governor Alfred Mutua.

Residents will now have to dig deeper into their pockets to buy their freedom if they are caught littering the environment. The act will attract a fine of Sh250.

A driver whose passengers throw litter on the road will be liable to an instant fine of Sh1,500.

Those caught disposing waste on non-designated areas in the county will pay Sh10,000 fine.

Open-air markets

Obstruction by commercial vehicles within the county will attract a fine of Sh25,000 plus towing charges at market rates.

Miraa dealers are not spared either as transporters will pay a daily fee of Sh10,000 per trip.

Those selling miraa in plastic bags and basins will give the county government a daily fee of Sh200.

The county government will earn Sh500 from individuals caught urinating in open-air markets or undesignated areas.

Trucks ferrying sand within the county to other areas will pay a levy of Sh150,000  and parking fees for commercial vehicles in Mlolongo and Chumvi towns will be Sh500.

Those involved in harvesting and selling of the precious commodity will be charged an application fee of Sh5,000 per year and a permit of Sh10,000 per month, Sh50,000 per six months or Sh80,000 per year.

The county government appears keen to widen its sources of revenue to fund some of the interesting programmes that Machakos has hit the headlines with.

Recently, Dr Mutua provided 40 tractors to plough Machakos County free to boost food production.

“We have to end the cycle of hunger and food relief in our region,” he said during the launch at Kithimani, in Yatta Constituency.

“In three years time, Machakos will have the capacity to feed the whole of Kenya due to this comprehensive programme.”

In addition to 40 tractors that will cultivate farms, Mutua also flagged off free seed, fertiliser and two million chicken that will be given to Machakos residents in every village. Next year, he plans to add the number of tractors from 40 to 120.

Curb aflatoxin

“Youths do not have to sit at bus stops eating miraa. They can now tend to the chicken and the county government will buy grown kienyeji chicken from them,” Mutua said as he explained that his government had already identified markets in China, India and the African region for chicken and eggs.

Under the programme, silos are being constructed across the county to store maize in proper conditions to curb aflatoxin.

In Nyandarua County, land and matatu owners are bracing themselves for hard times as a proposed Finance Bill is set to increase taxes.

Most affected are landowners as land rates and clearance certificates fees are set to go up.

The standard rates for plot owners will be Sh1,500 up from Sh1,000, which the residents were paying to the defunct Nyandarua County Council.

Also targeted are plot owners in Ol Kalou town, which is the headquarters of the county. They will pay Sh2,000 rates.

The move is targeted at raising funds for the county as it has been allocated Sh3.4 billion by the national government.

Matatu owners who will be operating in the county will now be forced to pay Sh2,000 per month to the county government. The move has received opposition from the operators who have termed the fee exorbitant.

4NTE matatu services chairman Wilfred Kimotho said that they would consult County Governor Daniel Waithaka to seek ways of reducing the fee.

Free destination

“It will be extremely difficult for us to operate and that is why we are seeking to talk with the governor on the matter. We are sure that he will listen to us,” he noted

In Kericho County, Governor Paul Chepkwony said since his team took over, they have managed to seal loopholes thus the county’s revenue collection has shot up from Sh300,000 per day to Sh1 million.

“We won’t allow anyone to reap where they did not sow, that is why we are saying the county is a corruption free destination,” Chepkwony says.

Kericho County Executive Committee Member for Finance and Economic Planning Patrick Mutai says property owners owe the county over Sh64 million in unpaid land rates, with some dating back to 1998.

– Daniel Nzia, James Munyeki and Nikko Tonui