Kericho traders up in arms over hike in business permit fees

The traders gathered at Soin in Sigowet constituency, where they claimed the hike was illegal.

Cornelius Bett, a business owner, said, “I paid Ksh. 4,000 for a permit last year and this year it has doubled to Ksh. 8,000."

Another trader, Dickson Cheruiyot, urged the governor to intervene.

“We are very disappointed with the happenings and call on the governor to act,” he said.

Christopher Ngeno, a butchery owner, accused the county government of neglecting traders' needs.

He pointed to the unhygienic state of the business center that puts the vendors' and buyers' health at risk of contracting diseases. 

“It's bad enough that the cost of permits has been hiked, but what is worse is that we don't see how the money is being used because the state of the market is deplorable," he said.

Vallary Rogony reiterated her fellow trader's sentiments, saying, "We are feeling squeezed to a corner. We urge the governor to act or we will be forced to stop paying taxes as we cannot see the money working on the ground."

The governor was unavailable for comment by the time of publication.