Traders Get Relief as Governor Cuts Business License and Inspection Fees
Small-scale traders in Kiambu County can now breathe a sigh of relief after the county government significantly reduced business license fees.
This move comes as a response to the tough economic conditions many traders are facing.
Governor Kimani Wamatangi has introduced a major change that will benefit small businesses—traders will now only need to apply for a single business permit, which will cover multiple licensing fees.
According to Susan Gatwiri, the County Executive Committee Member for Trade and Industry, this new approach will ease the financial burden on traders by eliminating the need to apply for multiple costly licenses.
“With the new Finance Act, some changes have been made. We now have what we call a unified business permit,” Gatwiri explained. This permit will combine various charges into one, making it a convenient, all-in-one solution.
Apart from the business permit itself, it will also include fees for waste management, public inspection, fire inspection, and other necessary charges.
She further stated, “Under the current bill, which has already been approved by the governor, the charges have been reduced.”
Before this change, small-scale traders such as barbershop and salon owners, as well as small-scale meat sellers, had to pay a health inspection fee of Ksh1,500. Now, this fee has been slashed to Ksh500.
Similarly, fuel stations with fewer than three pumps previously had to pay an inspection fee of Ksh4,100. Thanks to the new bill, this fee has been reduced to Ksh2,000.
Owners of mobile accessories shops will also benefit from a significant reduction, as their inspection fees have dropped from Ksh4,000 to Ksh1,500.
Additionally, the county government announced that the single business permit will now be valid for 12 months from the date of issuance, giving traders more flexibility and convenience.
By making tax levies more affordable, the county government hopes to increase its own-source revenue, especially by encouraging more small-scale traders to comply with licensing requirements.
Governor Wamatangi has also been addressing other financial concerns affecting residents. In 2024, he revoked a decision that would have imposed taxes on freehold land in Kiambu County.
Moreover, the county government has proposed lowering the tax rate for other chargeable lands. Instead of the 0.25% tax rate introduced in the 2016 valuation roll, the new rate will be reduced to 0.15%.
These efforts by the Kiambu County Government aim to create a more favorable business environment, helping small-scale traders thrive despite economic challenges.
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