Persons living with disability in Nakuru have commended the government for the suggestion in the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report for a seven-year tax break for youth and disabled owned businesses.
Their chairman Joseph Ogutu said the seven-year tax break if implemented will be a game-changer for the many jobless youths in the country. “A number of businesses start making profits after three to five years and the high taxes have contributed to the collapse of several start-ups,’’ he said.
Ogutu urged the youth to support the BBI report because for once somebody has listened to their cries and struggles. “One of the hardest things in this country is maintaining a business due to the high overhead costs such as rent, taxes and the infamous goodwill,’’ he said.
At the same time, he said a number of entrepreneurs and young people end up hawking their goods as it is cheaper despite the challenges of running battles with county security officers.
He observed that the attractive suggestions on the BBI report was likely to reduce the number of hawkers on the street and decongest the popular urban areas.
However, he appealed to the government to consider making loans of less than Sh100, 000 interest free for a period of two years, because financing of youth ideas was a tall order for the majority of them.
By Veronica Bosibori
