Kiambu county traders have continued to demonstrate against paying increased levies, after a High Court order allowed the charges to remain.
The traders said the levies are too high, with Kikuyu and Kabete traders demonstrating against the levies on Thursday and more demos have been planned for next week in other sub counties.
The businesspeople say the county government did not consider their views when drafting the Finance Bill, which was enacted to authorise the levies.
Kiambu Coordinated Stakeholders Association CEO Kimani Muhia said: “The county government does not want to listen to us and still continues to overcharge us. We have been opposed to the Finance Act since it was passed by the county assembly."
The traders also protested against being forced to install fire extinguishers in all business premises.
"I operate a movie shop where at first I was paying Sh 3,000. It was increased to Sh 5,000 and now it is up to Sh 15,000. I was told to have a fire extinguisher in my premise and put visible notices of no smoking and exit in case of fire," Simon Ngige said.
Judge Isaac Lenaola declined to stop implementation of the Kiambu County Finance Act 2014, pending determination of two suits filed against it.
The Jomofastar Welfare Association has sued the county for enacting the bill without the consent of the residents.
Another suit has been filed by a group of abattoir owners from Madaraka and Jamuhuri markets and owners of residential houses in Thika town.
The traders want the court to stop the implementation of the Act with respect to fees, rents and levies.
However, the county government has given a gazette notice on the reduced solid waste management levies, which was effected on Thursday.
Traders have been paying Sh 2,400 a year for solid waste management annually to the county government since 2013 when the rates were last reviewed.
The Kiambu government has reduced by half the rates and levies on solid waste management for middle-income and informal businesses.