Traders in Kisumu are calling on the county government to reduce levies imposed on their businesses as it is hurting them.
The small vendors and hawkers claim that due to high levies imposed on them, they end up making losses.
"We are supposed to be making profits, but at the end of the day almost all the profit goes to the levies," lamented Miriam Anyiko a mitumba seller at Kibuye Market.
The traders are calling on the government to tax them according to the size of their business.
"Charges for small businesses are the same as those of large businesses. Is that really fair considering the profit margins involved here?" wondered Stephen Okoth.
They feel that the county is thwarting their dreams of expanding their businesses.
The county government has also been faulted for not improving services despite the high levies charged.
"Most of our working places lack basic amenities such as restrooms yet we pay daily," said Martha Amani from Kibuye Market.
Their calls to the county government to lower levies have been ignored before and they are now challenging governor Jack Raguma’s administration to provide a conducive environment for conducting business.
Previously some business owners have been forced to move to neighbouring counties in search of a better business environment.