Kiambu Governor William Kabogo Bows to Pressure, Slashes Levies by 50 Percent

In an announcement made Thursday morning during an address to traders in Limuru, Governor Kabogo said that his office had formed a team to deliberate on the issue and had come up with several recommendations among them the reduction of levies charged.

The Governor however called upon the traders to adhere to the laws and promptly pay taxes adding that he is working to ensure that market fees were reduced to Ksh 20 from the current Ksh 30.

Traders present expressed their satisfaction with the revision of the rates though noting that cover charges, taxed on top of licensing fees should be scraped.

Kiambu has seen several protests in different parts of the county as traders expressed their displeasure with the rates which they said were too high.

The issue had escalated to the point of causing dissatisfaction with Kabogo’s administration with the traders, some Members of Parliament and MCAs calling for his ouster.

Appearing before Citizen TV’s The Big Question show, Kabogo admitted that the constant protests by traders in the Kiambu were caused by discomfort with the rates charged though noting that the levies were aimed at jerking the county’s revenue collection in order to finance major development projects.

Kabogo had stated that the amount allocated to the county by the central government is not enough to finance development projects but urged for patient as the county moves to address the issue.

By Benjamin Wafula