Kajiado’s county Committee on Finance, Economic Planning and ICT is currently sensitizing the residents on the county’s Finance Bill and the Tax Waiver, Variations and Administration Bill 2023.
The Committee Chair, Jackson Angaine underscored the importance of inputs from the public in improving the two documents adding that the bills will help the county in revenue collection based on the current economic situation.
Speaking in Kitengela ward during the sensitization exercise, Angaine noted that wards have been categorized to zones based on their economic status.
“Kitengela, Ngong and Kajiado municipalities are under zone A while Isinya, Loitoktok and Rombo towns are in zone B. We were able to engage the public based on the various categories of taxes they are supposed to pay including land rates and land rents.
They have also raised their concerns on the invoices they have been issued and came up with memorandums which we will go and look at as a county assembly and give resolutions as a county assembly in accordance to the constitution and the county government finance act,” said Angaine.
The committee chair further noted that public views will be taken into consideration before the two bills are passed.
Esther Simiyu, a water vendor in Kitengela, asked the county government to separate the small medium enterprises (SMEs) in the town from companies as the levies are ‘killing’ the SMEs.
“Though we are refilling and bottling at the same time, we cannot produce 5,000 liters of water per day. It is not fair that they charge us Shs 30,000 for both bottling and refilling while we are semi-automated unlike companies. We want them to do amalgamation. We want to pay Sh15,000 for water only like before,” said Simiyu.
Elvis Njuguna from the bar industry reiterated Simiyu’s sentiments and urged the county government to harmonize the licenses into one license as the different licenses resulted to burdensome costs for traders.
The sensitization exercises are being held pursuant to the provisions of Article 196(1) of the constitution of Kenya 2010 and Standing Order No. 121(3) of the County Assembly Standing Order.
The objective of the Tax Waiver, Variations and Administration act is to give further effect to article 210 of the constitution as regards to tax waivers and the administration thereof, and to ensure transparency in the administration of taxes and other revenues.
It also provides for the procedure applicable to and the requirements for tax waivers in addition to giving further effect to section 159 of the public finance management act 2012.
The sensitization exercise continues this week in Kajiado Central, Kajiado North and Kajiado West Sub counties.
By Diana Meneto
