Machakos High Court today has ordered temporary withdrawal of the new license fees the Kitui county government had introduced.
The case was applied in the court by several traders from Kitui together with Kitui county chairman Chamber of Commerce Muema Wilson.
The case was presented before Lady Justice Lillian Mutende by the applicants’ lawyer, John Khaminwa on Friday.
The Kitui County government has been accused of failing to respond to persuasion for dialogue and peaceful demonstrations by the traders who lamented the new taxes had been oppressing to them.
During her ruling today, Lady Justice Mutende ordered the county government to withdraw the new licenses until the two parties came to an amicable solution.
“This Court orders the Kitui County government to temporarily pull out the new permit fees that have been set for the businesses until the government finds a platform to sit and reach an amicable solution with the traders,” Mutende ruled.
Mutende however gave a two month period to the traders to pay the previous amounts to acquire business permits. The move was received with excitement by traders and the chairman of chamber of commerce who had attended the court proceedings.
Speaking outside the high Court Muema Wilson stated that the ruling was a great victory for traders who were facing risk of closing down their premises due to unaffordable fees.
“ we have received a landmark ruling for the year today, we are happy the upcoming businesses can rise again and not pay what the government was forcing us to pay,” said Muema.