NAIROBI (Halbeeg News) – Traders in Mandera town on Kenya’s border with Somalia have opposed the new levies which the county government plans to impose.
Mandera government had earlier issued a statement indicating levies which will be implemented soon.
The government had declared the levies during the 2018/2019 financial year budget.
According to an article published by Daily Nation, the chairman of Mandera traders, Abdille Sheikh Billow said the Mandera traders termed the new levies as exorbitant and away beyond their reach.
“We have deliberated on the newly proposed levies and we have come to a conclusion that we will all not pay until a mutual agreement is reached between us and the county government,” said Mr. Billow.
The traders accused Mandera County government of drafting the proposal without consulting all stakeholders and specifically the business community.
“There was nothing like public participation for this Bill that increased the levies we have been paying to the county,” said Mr. Billow.
He argued that the 2018/2019 Finance Bill did not meet the legal requirement since all stakeholders were not involved.
“We demand that this Bill be revised and fresh public participation be carried out by the right people,” he said.
His deputy, Mr. Abdirahim Sheikh Issack, asked the county government to suspend the implementation of the levies law until a consensus is reached.
“We ask the county government to continue collecting revenues based on the previous law until all outstanding issues are ironed out,” he said.
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