The row between Chuka town small scale traders and Tharaka Nithi government over increased levies following implementation of the 2018/2019 County Finance Bill continue to deepen as the former maintain that they will not pay the new charges.
Yesterday, the county Chief Officer in charge of Trade Aggrey Karani accompanied by Revenue Director Lawrence Kaburu had to leave the market in hush after disgruntled traders started shouting at them for what they termed as planning a meeting without notifying them.
A commotion arose after the county official told grocery operators that their levies would be reduced from Sh3700 to Sh1700 leaving others wondering why they were not considered.
Mr Karani then told the traders that they were at liberty of either paying Sh1700 at once to cater for the whole year or Sh5 on daily basis.
The disgruntled traders accused the county of conniving with some of their members to impose the charges on them.
One of the traders who sought anonymity told The Press Point that the charges had been exaggerated and that the Finance Bill should be taken back to the assembly for revision.
He further insisted that they were not aware of the meeting claiming that the officials wanted to enforce the new charges without involving all the traders.
“If we were aware of the meeting, we would have all closed our businesses and waited for the county officials,” he said.
Contradicting information
Addressing media later, the chief officer said the grocery traders who won’t pay Sh1700 once will have to part with Sh20 per day instead of the Sh5 he had earlier mentioned at the Chuka open air market.
He said the county was in the process of re-invoicing so that the charges for other small scale traders are reduced from Sh3700 to Sh3200.
Mr Karani said the charges were based on the provisions in the County Finance Bill and that traders would be allowed to pay in bits.
Martin Mugambi, the Secretary General of Chuka Small Scale Traders Association recently said the county government had declined to address their grievances and that its officers were using police and their enforcement team to force them to pay.
“Being forced to pay Sh5700 per year is unrealistic considering that we sell very few items,” Mr Mugambi said.
Kiosks
In Chogoria, traders using the newly constructed kiosks are required to pay a commitment fee of Sh10, 000 and monthly rent of Sh2500 but the official said the government had resolved to reduce the rent to Sh1000 per month.
“The traders will sign fresh agreements and will only pay Sh1000 for rent every month,” Mr Karani said.
Bars
Those operating bars are required to pay a single business permit of Sh12, 000 up from Sh6400.
They are also required to pay an annual liquor license fee of Sh30, 000 from Sh10, 000 as bar and restaurant operators pay Sh60, 000 from Sh28, 000.
In addition, the business people have to backdate the licenses for the three years that they did not pay following application of a matter in court.
Medical certificate
Traders at Magutuni market in Maara constituency have asked the Muthomi Njuki led government to be clear on the type of businesses whose operators are required to have a medical certificate.
The traders last week criticized the county public health officers for arresting 16 traders among them those selling potatoes and tomatoes for not having a medical certificate.
The Press Point established that the traders were being charged Sh3000 for a medical certificate at nearby Magutuni Sub County hospital.
Governor Njuki recently said only those with big businesses had been affected by the incriment and maintained that all traders must pay the levies.
