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Nairobi vendors and youths are bitter how sweet talking government turned to them after elections. The street vendors as they called themselves ‘hustlers’ says Ruto regime came into power after selling manifesto promising youths that they’ll be their backbone in times of need but the things are far different from what they promised.
Godwin Otieno a young smokie and eggs seller in Nairobi CBD said he beat all odds to vote for Nairobi County Governor Sakaja because of what he promised during campaign but now the Governor has sent County tax collector’s to closed his business and now he’s heading to his rental house empty-handed. His small investments just wiped daylight by the same regime he vote-in.
Another colporteur, Githinji Maina by name who we talked to at the streets of Nairobi told us that he is currently frustrated after County Government Officials forced him to verify annually tax remittance or closed his source of income. Githinji added that for decades he was use to remitting tax in cash when tax collectors visiting to collect.
In his own words Githinji said he’s a law compliance citizen and he always pay tax but he cannot verify because he use to trash the receipts and some days he wasn’t given the receipts as the tax collectors knows him. Githinji Maina suggest that National Government with County Government could’ve introduce new regulations and start collecting revenue from the day President was sworn-in instead of dwelling to past years, they will closed more business thus hurting individuals.
The businesses is shaken by skyrocketing fuel prices witnessed globally and the overburdening taxation in the country, the bitterness of urban traders with taxman is not only triggered by high cost of living but season and climate.
In tax collection Mama Mboga, Boda boda and Mayai/Smokies vendors are not spared, the hammer fall on them too. However, Mitumba sellers are waiting for their day as government promised to ban mitumba imports in early 2024
