By Obegi Malack and Collins Ochieng’
Kajiado County business people are calling on the County Government of Kajiado to cushion them from Covid-19 pandemic effects.
The traders want governor Joseph Ole Lenku to waive taxes and levies for three months.
They said the stringent measures by President Uhuru Kenyatta caught them by surprise since they had not recovered from losses incurred during the first lockdown.
The president had ordered an 8pm to 4am curfew and banned movement into Kajiado,Machakos, Nairobi, Kiambu and Nakuru counties.
Kiserian market chairman Muthama Ganga said the market traders’ profits has reduced by more than half and they are struggling to put food on the table.
Muthama said the sh 30 daily charges should be suspended for some tim, he said other counties such as Machakos have cushioned their people from the pandemic effects and Kajiado should follow suit.
Nkaimurunya market chairman James Gachie had directed traders not to pay the market fee to the county government. He said the traders businesses have been affected by Covid-19 pandemic measures.
A fruit vendor in Nkaimurunya Ward Wayne Gitau said the governor should suspect the taxes.
“The curfew begins at 8pm has adversely affected me since that is the time I make a lot of money due to arrival of people who purchase my fruits to go and eat at home,’ she said.
” I depend on Kisumu county to get fresh fish that I sell to my customers but since the lockdown my business has been thwarted. I opted to buy from another seller but the price is expensive and my customers lament about the quality,” said Joseph Okello who is a fish seller.
Hospitality Association of Kenya coordinator Clifford Wanjala from Kajiado North Sub County said the county and national govermnet should come up with a stimulus package to support the hospitality sector businesses.
The association held protests in Nairobi CBD demanding president Uhuru to ease the lockdown measures. The president had ordered all restaurants to serve food to customers on a take-away basis and ordered closure of bars.