Siaya Governor James Orengo has exempted hawkers, small-scale vegetable and cereal vendors as well as mitumba clothes traders in Usenge from paying levies for the next seven days.

Orengo further suspended market cess, bus park fees and boda bodas.

“This directive is not only meant to protect vulnerable members of our business community but to allow my administrations to re-strategise and bring new revenue collectors.

“All revenue collection and enforcement agencies are now informed and for the next 7 days there will be a reprieve for the traders,” Orengo said.

He directed the finance and revenue management department to stop collecting levies with immediate effect.

Orengo while addressing Usenge traders said that all salons, shops, barber shops, shoe shiners, kiosks and M-Pesa shops will also be exempted.

“Any officer found charging increased fees or harassing traders should be reported to the relevant office for immediate disciplinary action.”

Orengo was reacting to a petition that was presented to his office last week where Usenge residents declined to pay tax since the area does not meet town status.

Orengo further directed the revenue unit to ensure they collect market rates and not town rates even if Usenge is upgraded to town status.

“I have directed that Usenge residents to collect market revenues and not town rates,” Orengo stated.

The county boss was accompanied by East Yimbo MCA Francis Otiato, chairman Lands Committee Obiero Otare, Trade Executive Grace Agola and East Asembo MCA Gordon Onguru.

He at the same time appealed to the residents not to reject the bid to convert Usenge to town status.

“I am ready to enter into agreement with the petitioners on the revenue payment rates. The residents shall continue paying the market rates even if it’s elevated to town status,” he added.

The municipalities and town bring forth development resources right from donors and upgrading market centre into town would ensure regions development.”

Orengo regretted that Siaya municipality only received Kenya Urban Support Program of Ksh21 million while Kiambu County received Ksh1.4 billion in the same year.

“Kiambu has a big population than Kisumu and it’s the cities and urban centres that attracted the donor funds.”

“We recently upgraded Bondo and Ugunja into municipalities and the two failed to get resources but we are optimistic that the regions including Usenge will in future get financial support that enhances developments.

“For Usenge’s parameters reveal its potentiality hence capable of thriving in terms of development. Machakos county was once a town and it’s now thriving economically courtesy of donor funds,” he added.

The county boss further stated that counties were embracing municipalities including Homabay which had five municipalities while Kisumu added Karito, Muhoroni and now struggling to upgrade Chemelil.

He assured the traders that the Usenge market would be a modern one and he has instructed the Public works to work on the drowning/design of the market.

“One of the 35 high masts earmarked for installations will be brought in Usenge to light the town,” said Orengo adding that in the next financial year, they will allocate some funds to facilitate the roads project that passes the Usenge market to the beach,” the county boss stated.