High taxes hurting ease of doing business in Kenya - Dealers

Dealers of construction machines in the country have called on the government to ensure a favorable environment to enable ease of doing business.

This comes even as the country hosts the 23rd Buildexpo Africa 2022 at Kenyatta International Conference Centre to showcase the widest range of the latest technology in building material, mining machines, construction machinery and heavy equipment.

Liddem International MD Harbin Zhao on Thursday said the high taxes imposed by the government are a turn off to investors who would otherwise invest in the country.

Liddem is the authorized dealer of Zoomlion construction machines in Kenya and deals in the sale and hire construction equipment.

“The government needs to release some policies which will attract investors and not discourage us. This taxation is very much high and the living cost is very high,” Zhao said.

The Buildexpo is East Africa's largest building and construction fair and it brings together exhibitors from over 40 countries who are the finest in infrastructure development.

The three-day event will see more than 10,000 products, equipment and machinery displayed at KICC and will act as an ideal forum for international players to showcase their products and services to the huge market in Africa.

“The expo has opened a door for all the dealers, companies doing business related to construction industry and it will give every dealer and company in this industry a chance to come here to check what is new in this markets and what kind of information they can get,” he added.

Zhao said the focus is now on supplying to the county governments in the country as there lies a great potential that comes with devolution.

“Those county governments we have a chance, we have a market and we really hope we can supply to them. Covid-19 has affected us a lot and has affected all the companies in the industry but the most important thing is how you survive during this time.”

During the expo, visitors from across East Africa, and trade visitors are invited directly in collaboration with regional trade bodies in Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, Somalia, Mozambique and Congo.

The expo kicked off on Thursday and is expected to end on Saturday.