In Kenya job opportunities are few and far between, especially for many ‘unconnected’ young people. As a result, the youth and many older people engage in some form of business to meet their daily needs.
The irony is that instead of them meeting their needs they find that they are ‘working for other people’. This means that they do not profit much from their labour since most of their profit goes to unnecessary expenses.
Government should focus on reducing these expenses to increase the chances of developing the nation.
A good example is Nairobi. For one to start a business, small or big, they require capital. Next you need somewhere to set up your business. For small traders, this will most probably be a kibanda (kiosk), whose rent is often too high.
Once you set up shop and begin operations you have to contend with county government workers, we still call them kanjo, visiting every week to collect some fee. Never mind that you have already paid for a licence or many permits depending on the nature of your business.
No wonder at some point in the day you will find many shops in the estate closed and the roadside sellers have disappeared. The traders will be hiding from kanjos who want to take what little they have made in the name of tax. That’s KRA’s job.
Then there are the bills; the cost of electricity is still too high. The cost of water too is high, especially if the supply is erratic and you have to buy to maintain cleanliness lest you drive your customers away.
All these expenses have stifled the growth of many a small business and led to the closure of many others. Lest we forget, there are no jobs for these traders.
The government should look into this matter critically, especially the kanjos. Are all people who collect ‘tax’ in the name of the county government genuine workers or frauds? This matter requires an investigation.
In my opinion, kanjos should be banned from collecting ‘tax’ and the job left to the proper authority, KRA.
Student, Maasai Mara University
