Mombasa County holds a stakeholders meeting to discuss on the Finance Bill 2018/19

The KAM Coast Chapter, led by the Chapter Chairman, Mr Mohamed Rashid engaged the Mombasa County Trade team on the proposed County Finance Bill. Key concerns highlighted include the high costs proposed on refuse collection, license fees for the waste recycling company and county charges on branding and distribution, that would increase the overall cost of doing business for industries, rendering businesses uncompetitive.

The Charges include:

• Ksh. 30,000 shillings per month on refuse collection
• Ksh. 2, 500 license fees for the Waste Recycling Company

Additionally, members raised concerns on the bulkiness of the document and the fact that most of what it contains was borrowed from the defunct municipal council.

Speaking at the forum, Coast Chapter Chair, Mr Rashid Mohamed noted that “The cost of doing business in the county is high, businesses are suffering and it’s high time the County retains the manufacturing sector, as it’s the largest employer in the County.”

The Coast Chapter Officer, Ms. Susan Gitau expressed concerns over the number of business that have closed shop in Mombasa due to unfavorable business environment. “The county needs to carry out a feasibility study on how many new manufacturers have set up in Mombasa since the onset of devolution and how many have closed.”

Speaking at the forum the County Trade Officer, Mr. John Seda noted that they would take up manufacturer’s concerns to the County Assembly. The County Team also agreed that there is need to have the feasibility study done for the posterity of the Mombasa County.