Kiambu County slashes fees and levies charged on residents.

Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu addressing the press on Thursday where he announced a reduction on the current rates charged on licences and fees. 

Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu on Thursday said that the 2017-18 draft finance bill to be presented to the county assembly contains a proposal to review downwards all the fees and charges levied for businesses and residents.

Speaking at the Thika Level 5 Hospital where he had gone to flag off 5 new ambulances to various hospitals, the governor said that his government opted to revert to the old rates by the defunct local authorities in response to public outcry.

“We have listened to the views of many residents and traders who felt that the current rates are too high and punitive. We therefore decided to review them downwards pending further negotiations to come up with acceptable rates for all,” he said.

Subsequently, he asked those with court pending cases regarding the same to withdraw them as the matter had already been overtaken by events.

Waititu said that they had waivered all outstanding arrears by traders accrued over the last 5-year period and appealed to all residents to repay this gesture by paying for their licences in time to allow the county government to offer quality services.

The governor also said that they will table two other bills; The Ward development Fund that will bring down resources to the grassroots and review the current alcoholic bill to get rid of all second generation liquor in the county.

He pointed out that each ward will allocated sh. 30 million annually to develop its own infrastructure and improve the lives of its own residents.

He added that the county government will this financial year provide a grader and two tippers to every constituency to facilitate in infrastructural development.

“For our people to benefit with all these money, we need a sober society that will take full advantage of all the opportunities that come their way. Once this bills are through, we will vigorously fight drug abuse and alcoholism to the last drop,” he warned.

Meanwhile, Waititu has said that the World Bank is extending Kiambu County Ksh. 1.2 billion to construct 7 new markets across the country. That notwithstanding, his government and the national treasury have earmarked to spend Ksh. 68 billion to construct road networks across the county.