The Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives wrapped up public hearings on the County Licensing (Uniform Procedures) Bill, 2022.

The Committee held the final engagement on Saturday, April 6, 2024 with residents of the Coast and North Eastern regions.

The Bill aims to standardize licensing procedures across county governments.

In separate sessions at Mama Asha Jawaba Hall in Kilifi County and Garissa Library Hall in Garissa County, stakeholders cited multiple and high taxation as a significant barrier to conducting business.

Vice Chairperson, Hon. Marianne Kitany (Aldai)  led the team in Kilifi, while Hon. Robert Gichumu (Gichugu) led the sub-committee that engaged residents of Garissa County.

"Fishermen pay taxes to the county government. The market women who deal in fish also pay taxes to the same authority and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). It is unfair to subject small-scale traders to multiple taxation,” said Mr.  Abdulkathar Mohamed.

Members assured the public that their input will be considered.

They emphasized that the enactment of the Bill into law would address the issue of multiple taxation and usher in more business-friendly licensing procedures.

"We shall carefully review and consider all the feedback we have received from the public during the hearings we conducted across the country," Hon. Kitany said.

Other than Kilifi and Garissa, the Committee also held public hearings in Kisumu, Nairobi, Kakamega, Nyeri, Embu, and Uasin Gishu counties.