Photographers from Nyamira County who have been conducting their businesses at funeral functions may find themselves in a tricky situation after Gesima residents asked the county government to tax them.
Speaking on Tuesday in a funeral ceremony at Gesima ward, former councillor Malachi Oiko ignited the debate and said the photographers were disrupting mourning exercises in the name of making money and therefore called the county leadership to ensure they pay tax.
Mr Oiko said photographers attending funeral functions were evading tax contrary to provisions of the constitution besides overcharging residents when doing the business.
“No one is special and therefore photographers must remit tax to the county government for meaningful development. It’s sad that they overcharge us and continue executing their business with impunity. Time has come for them to follow the law,” he said.
He was backed by Mr Julius Nyachieo, also a former councillor in the defunct municipal council, who said the county was losing huge amounts of money essential for development.
“They must be obedient and pay the tax. Paying tax is an obligation to all citizens and therefore the county government should do its job,” he added.
However, the photographers, led by veteran John Abuga, accused the former councillors of ‘igniting endless’ war and asked them to retire from politics peacefully.
“I wonder why they are igniting an endless war. They should be out of politics because they don’t know that we pay tax through the materials we use for photography,” he said.