This archive report was first published on 22 September 2021.
September 22, 2021, marked a day of discontent for residents of Kakamega county as the county government proposed new taxes that have left many up in arms.
Among the proposed taxes is clinical circumcision on male children in hospitals, which has sparked widespread criticism from residents.
Residents, led by Elisha Ohuya, chair of Kakamega Hoteliers Association, and Geoffrey Wekesa, market counterpart, have condemned the new laws added to the 2021 Finance bill.
"We condemn the move by our MCAs to add such punitive laws to our already overtaxed people in the name of circumcision and post-mortem fees," the two leaders complained.
The proposed taxes also include a Ksh600 levy for post-mortem services on dead animals, including cats, dogs, and chickens, which has been met with resistance from residents.
Nancy Linana, a local resident, questioned the feasibility of the new tax, saying, "Will I buy food or pay Ksh600 to the livestock department for them to conduct a post-mortem on my dead cat, dog, or chicken? This county is now joking with us," she told a local TV.
Other proposed taxes include a Ksh100 tax for patients on oxygen support in hospitals and the introduction of ambulance fees, which has been criticized by residents who argue that hospitals in Kakamega lack essential medicine needed to treat residents.
Private school owners have also been affected, with a 300 per cent increase in the operating fees they are required to pay, from Ksh25,000 to Ksh75,000.
Meshack Lanziva, chair of the Private Schools Association, described the move as a polite way of asking them to close shop in Kakamega county.
However, County Committee Executive for Finance David Ikunza defended the new tax proposals, stating that they are just proposals and that the county assembly will include all the proposals by locals before the bill is passed into law.
