Small scale traders in different parts of the country have accused county governments for preying on their small businesses instead of helping them
Legislators have vowed to standardize the county licensing uniform procedures so as county government can borrow a leaf to abide by the regulations
Small scale traders and hawkers from Nairobi county have decried of oppression by county government over multiple licensing fees including license to kill cockroaches
Speaking during public participation on county licensing uniform procedures bill 2022, traders accused county governments particularly Nairobi county for pushing them to pay multiple license fees in devoid of unthriving economy for businesses
“Tunaona huu mswada tayari umepitishwa na watu fulani, na sisi ndio tunaumia manake unapata watu wa kanju (county askaris) wanatuambia tulipe leseni hata ya kuwaua mende na panya but tukilipa hatuwaoni tena!.
Ningependa Mbunge wa Mathare [Anthony Aluoch] na Mbunge wa Machakos county [Joyce Kamene] to stand with the hustlers at parliament and make sure our concerns are factored in this new bill,” a resident from Kamukunji pleaded opposition lawmakers to protect them at bicameral parliament
Majority of traders wants consolidated one license where several businesses being operated will be integrated under one permit instead of single permit listing down only one business name which is very expensive
They also requested consideration of quashing the daily revenue collections by the askaris from hawkers and instead scale it down to make it monthly or annually for those selling eggs, sweets and other small goods sellers
In the bill, Mathare MP Anthony Aluoch proposes consolidated license that will cover up small scale traders annually without charging them further, even if the trader relocates to another county so long as is operating the same businesses
Machakos County MP Joyce Kamene vowed to make sure that the small scale traders pays little amount of money equivalent to Sh10 with keen interest to also push for the waiver of license fees for those selling light goods like biscuits and sweets
A representative from Gikomba wants county assembly to be compelled to follow the newly uniform licencing [Uniform Procedures Bill] to avoid duplications and oppression from county askaris
Nairobi CBD’s Chief Fred Mbaka, wants traders not to be harassed upon waiting for their licenses to be issued by the relevant county departments
They appealed for stoppage of non generalization of issues where sometimes county officials do harass business owners whenever they find one of them is operating against the provided regulations and procedures
The legislators led by sessional Chair Gichungu lawmaker Robert Githinji alongside Starehe MP Amos Mwango, Mathare MP Anthony Aluoch and Machakos County Woman Representative Joyce Kamene Kasimbi assured of standardizing the county licensing uniform procedures bill for the counties to follow the procedures