This archive report was first published on 5 August 2019.
Nairobi residents are set to face a new tax regime under the proposed Nairobi County Finance Bill 2019, which is currently undergoing public participation.
According to the bill, residents will be required to pay Ksh. 50 to the Nairobi County Government for every chicken they slaughter in their homes.
Additionally, individuals living in the slums will be required to pay Ksh. 100 per month to the county government, while churches and mosques will be expected to cough up Ksh. 10,000 per month in form of revenues paid to the county.
“Even churches and mosques that have never been taxed in any part of the world, will now have to pay revenues to the government, therefore we will mobilise the churches and mosques to reject this bill,” said Rajab Mohamed, a Kibera resident.
Other businesses, including Mama Mboga’s, will also be required to pay Ksh. 200 per week to the county government, with a fine of Ksh. 50 for any delay.
The bill has attracted widespread criticism, with some residents expressing concerns that proper awareness was not made to the people of Nairobi during the public participation process.
A meeting held last week in Lang’ata Constituency to seek public participation into the bill reportedly flopped due to a lack of awareness.
Sidi Otieno of the Bunge La Mwananchi has since filed a petition to stop the bill, citing concerns that it is not being conducted in the right manner.
