Nairobi hawkers to pay more taxes under new county budget
Nairobi hawkers will have to dig deeper into their pockets to finance the county’s Sh42.3 billion budget, as the new administration has introduced a number of new taxes.
The County Finance Bill 2023, tabled by the County Executive Committee Member for Finance and Planning, Mr Charles Kerich, has outlined the plans the county plans to put in place to raise Sh19.99 billion, which is its own revenue target.
One of the most significant changes is the increase in the daily market access fee for small traders or hawkers, which has been increased from Sh20 to Sh50 per day.
Other new taxes include Sh1,000 per tonne for fish traders in both formal and informal markets, Sh25 for each small box weighing 50kg of beads, Sh20 per roll of material/fabric, Sh25 per bundle of small ropes (12-24), Sh50 per bundle for larger bundles of ropes, Sh350 for used tyres to be collected, Sh100 for chicken by-products per 90kg bag, Sh50 for chicken by-products per 50kg bag, Sh100 per dozen leeks, Sh50 per 50kg bucket of madafu, Sh10 fee per head for selling of carcass head by products in both informal and formal markets, Sh1,000 per ton for carcasses bone by products, Sh20 for carcasses legs by products (bundle of 12), Sh50 per roll 50kg for hides and animal skin (processed), Sh200 for tomato in a normal box weighing 101 -150kg, Sh150 for tomato in a medium box, Sh50 for 1-50kg of miraa /muguka, Sh100 for 51kg -100kg of miraa /muguka, Sh100 for miraa /muguka pick up for 500kg in formal and informal markets, and Sh100 for ground nuts per 90kg bag.
The new taxes have been met with mixed reactions from hawkers, with some expressing anger and frustration, while others said they were willing to pay the higher fees if it meant that the county would improve their working environment.
The county government has said that the new taxes are necessary to raise revenue to fund its development projects. However, some critics have argued that the taxes are unfair and will only serve to burden the poor.
It remains to be seen how the new taxes will be implemented and whether they will be effective in raising revenue for the county.
