This archive report was first published on 9 August 2019.
On August 9, 2019, the Kenya Alliance of Resident Associations (KARA) expressed its opposition to the Nairobi City County government's finance Bill 2019, which introduced new taxes on residents.
Henry Ochieng, KARA's CEO, testified before the budget committee, stating that the county government failed to conduct proper public participation before enacting the bill.
'We want the state to clarify that the bill is unlawful,' Ochieng said. 'How can you charge Sh. 2000 per household in slums for waste management services when those are the same services the county government should be offering us?'
KARA also raised concerns about the proposed slaughtering fees of Sh. 50 per chicken and Sh. 200 per goat, which the association deemed unrealistic.
Despite the law requiring public participation and passage by the county assembly, the Nairobi county government had already enacted the bill through a gazette notice.
Budget Committee chairman Robert Mbatia termed the move illegal and stated that no one should be taxed with the new charges until the assembly passes the bill.
'As we speak, the CEC for finance, Charles Kerich, ignored the law and enacted it, but we want to state that it is illegal,' Mbatia said.
The bill also increased parking fees from Sh. 200 to Sh. 400 for private vehicles in the central business district.
