Vihiga Governor Wilber Ottichilo has suspended revenue collection in the county for the next 30 days starting Tuesday, April 7.
The move is aimed at providing relief to businessmen and small-scale traders amidst harsh economic impacts of the coronavirus global pandemic.
The suspension of revenue collection comes a few days after the business community in the county had decried heavy loses as outbreak bites.
Vihiga's move follows similar measures by Kajiado,Kisumu and Murang’a counties, which have taken the measure to create an enabling environment for traders as the country fights the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ottichilo said most of the business people in the county were going through difficult moments..
“This is a period that we, as the administrators, should not frustrate our people. We need to create an easier time for them," the governor said.
"We have, therefore, suspended all revenue collection within the county, especially among hawkers, vendors and food suppliers, among others, until the situation is reverted,” Ottichilo said.
The governor, however, insisted market days remain suspended.
“Make sure you follow state orders on social distancing, hand-washing and wearing of masks to safeguard ourselves,” Ottichilo said.
Food suppliers within Luanda market coming from outside Vihiga county will sell their produce at Mumboha stadium to ensure the social distancing directive is observed.
He said the same will be done in other markets where food suppliers will have space created for them to ensure there is no food shortage in the county.
"We are going to use Geospatial Information Services (GIS) technology to position our traders within our markets a meter a part so that we do not close them," Otichilo said.
Matatu operators and boda boda riders were yet to know if they have been included in the tax exemption group as the governor did not mention them.
Ottichilo further said his administration will schedule how to distribute face masks, and told boda boda riders to carry only one passenger at a time.
Edited by E.Kibii
