On June 28, 2017, the Machakos County Government stopped collecting revenues from hawkers, 'mama mboga', small scale cereal vendors, market access for livestock, bus park fees for public service vehicles, boda boda and 'Mitumba' traders.
Small scale traders have enjoyed the revenue policy for close to eight months now, things are not looking good in the near future.
Traders at Athi River open air market are set to start paying revenue, the worst part of it is that the fees for those doing business at the market is set to increase.
The market's chairman popularly known as Musyoka announced the Machakos government's intention to start collecting taxes at the market on Saturday.
Musyoka said the traders will part with Sh100 as revenue fee on daily basis.
This is according to the chairman is more than 50% increment from the last year's Sh40 that the county government used to charge traders at the same market.
Musyoka, however, did not specify the exact date this new revenue policy will be enforced.
If effected, this new fees will put off many small scale traders who have been enjoying trading for free.
Many traders have vowed they will not comply.