By ERIC JUMA
More than 2,000 traders at Aram Market in Siaya County have boycotted tax payments, citing poor services and high charges imposed by the county government.
The traders vowed to continue operating without paying taxes until the county addresses their grievances.
Led by market chairperson Hellen Ochieng, the traders told county government officials that threats and intimidation would not compel them to resume tax payments.
“We ceased tax payment last week and we shall continue doing business without making any payments to the county government. The decision is a blow to the county government, and we shall contribute a few coins to clean the market,” said Ochieng.
She criticised the deployment of enforcement officers from Bondo and Rarieda, accusing them of using clubs to force traders to pay taxes.
“Mobilising enforcement officers from Bondo and Rarieda and arming them with clubs to force us to pay taxes does not work in this era. Threats, intimidation and arrests will not resolve the revenue stalemate. Let the government respond to traders’ grievances for peace to reign and tax payment to continue,” she said.
The traders said they resolved to stop paying taxes after their pleas for the county government to address their concerns failed to yield results.
They said they had previously raised similar concerns with county officials without seeing meaningful changes.
At the centre of the dispute is whether the county government’s drive to increase own-source revenue is being matched by improved services and a more business-friendly environment.
Rosemary Omamo, a trader at Aram Market, said unpredictable charges and enforcement had created uncertainty for businesses already struggling with high operating costs, rent and declining purchasing power.
Omamo said the county should prioritise service delivery, citing poor drainage and inadequate lighting as some of the major challenges facing traders.
Local traders also expressed frustration, arguing that higher fees were unjustified given the poor state of business conditions at the market.
“The market master, acting on a directive from the county government, has been collecting between Sh400 and Sh800 from traders without issuing receipts, and we have never benefited from it,” Omamo alleged.
She claimed the money was being held by the market master while traders continued to endure poor drainage, inadequate toilets and poor lighting.
Aram Market secretary James Juma blamed poor drainage for worsening conditions at the market, saying blocked and inadequate drainage systems contributed to flooding and disrupted business activities.
Juma also accused county enforcement officers of confiscating traders’ goods without proper identification or what he considered adequate legal authority.
“Some of the enforcement officers are fond of entering business premises and confiscating goods without what we consider adequate legal authority,” he said.
The traders also accused the county government of imposing high taxes that were forcing some businesses to close.
“The high taxes imposed on us by the county government have forced some of us out of business. Going forward, there will be no tax payment until the market leadership and the county government of Siaya engage in a consultative meeting to resolve the pertinent issues,” Juma said.
“We cannot build Siaya if we are being squeezed, but it can grow and thrive if we are empowered by Governor James Orengo so that we can work,” he added.
Juma said dialogue, rather than the deployment of enforcement officers, was the best way to rebuild trust between traders and the county government.
He also faulted the county government for delaying elections for market leadership.
“For the past six months, there have not been any elections. We want to have new officials to run the affairs of Aram Market,” Juma said.
Another trader, Otis Ochung, called for the construction of a culvert behind Aram Market to improve the movement of goods and people.
However, Siaya County Revenue Director Moses Keya insisted that taxes would continue to be collected at Aram Market, saying the county was working on modalities to resume revenue collection.
Keya accused the market chairperson of using the tax boycott to advance her political interests.
“We are aware that the market chairperson is in a campaign mood and is using theatrics and a tax boycott to win votes,” he said.
He warned that continued refusal to pay taxes could affect some county-funded projects.
“Should the traders insist on the tax boycott, we shall stop the ongoing construction of the Sh14 million livestock market project being undertaken in West Asembo Ward,” Keya said.
He explained that the livestock market was located on the western side of Asembo, while North Asembo, where Aram Market is situated, had not been prioritised in the county budget.
On the drainage problem, Keya said the required works would cost more than Sh10 million, compared with the Sh5 million allocated in the budget.
