Mombasa traders have defied orders by President Kenyatta [Photo/nation.co.ke]
Traders at the Kongowea Wholesale Market in Mombasa have opted to defy a directive issued by President Uhuru Kenyatta's not to pay taxes to the county government.
The market is reported to have continued with business as usual as tax collectors made their rounds collected levies from the traders.
Fruit and vegetable vendors pay Sh30 whereas second-hand sellers are charged Sh50 daily.
“We knew it was just a political statement. We could not hesitate from paying what is expected of us,” said a mango vendor, Mr Bakari Mwitsa. The Mombasa administration as criticized the Head of State for undermining the tourism economy by telling traders not to pay taxes. “Traders ignored his call and went ahead to pay levies without hitches. He has no authority on businesses at the market as it is under devolved unit. We have been doing all the works required from us,” said county communication director Richard Chacha.