Kakamega residents oppose proposal to impose new taxes

A cross section of Kakamega County residents have criticised a Bill that proposes, among others, to impose a Ksh 200 levy for every tree cut down.

The Bill to be tabled in the County Assembly, however, states that those exploiting forestry resources for domestic use will not be affected.

The proposal, if adopted, is due to raise revenue base of the county government, which also wanted to impose charges on impounded items, land transactions and outdoor advertising.

Besides these, it will upscale fees for transport and parking services, stadium and user fees for public health and medical services.

Interns, including those from Kenya Medical Training College, Kakamega, will be charged attachment fees too, says the Finance Bill 2018, which, however, states that the charges for those on attachment or internship will be pegged on individual programmes.

It further suggests that dental patients be charged a  Ksh 1, 000.

The finance committee is chaired by Shirere Ward Member of County Assembly, David Ikunza.

Since drafting of the Bill, there has been a stalemate between the executive and the MCAs. The latter also do not agree on the medical charges but all parties have been engaging one another for over a week.

James Ombango from Eshisiru sub location is one of those who contends that it was illogical to plant trees and be taxed when cutting down any of them.

Another resident from Shimalabandu village, Agnes Baraza, urged the County Assembly to rethink about the proposals before passing them as the tax on trees could be counterproductive, consequently discouraging personal efforts of afforestation while health charges could be prohibitive to the citizenry.