Makueni County Governor Mutula Kilonzo on Sunday, June 30, announced that his administration had decided to withdraw the Finance Bill in its entirety....𝐑̲𝐄̲𝐀̲𝐃̲ 𝐅̲𝐔̲𝐋̲𝐋̲ 𝐀̲𝐑̲𝐓̲𝚰̲𝐂̲𝐋̲𝐄̲ 𝐅̲𝐑̲𝐎̲𝐌̲ 𝐓̲𝐇̲𝐄̲ 𝐒̲𝐎̲𝐔̲𝐑̲𝐂̲𝐄̲
This happened less than a week after President William Ruto made a similar move following nationwide protests.
Mutula addressing the media indicated that he had decided to withdraw the Finance Bill after receiving intelligence that similar protests were being planned in Makueni.
The Bill had received national attention after reports that the county was planning to introduce daily and monthly taxes to hawkers, small business traders and vendors.
“About the Finance Bill, the proposals made by the department concerned with finance when we sat as cabinet we decided to shelve them,” he explained.
‘We agreed that due to harsh economic times in the country, we recommend retention of taxes that were being paid last year.”
Additionally, Mutula revealed that he had decided to reduce taxes for shop owners in select regions.
“We have also given traders an option to pay their taxes in instalments,” Mutula added.
The Wiper Democratic Movement elected governor stated that his administration was forced to have a meeting with traders to quell agitation following reports of punitive taxes in the Finance Bill.
He explained that the details of taxes in the Finance Bill were grossly exaggerated raising tensions in the County.
Going forward, he stated that traders would not be required to pay market entrance as earlier proposed in the Finance Bill.
Makueni County was able to raise over Ksh1 billion Own Source Revenue in the 2023/2024 financial year which was a historical high for the devolved unit…CONTINUE READING>>
