By A, KNA
Business owners in Migori County have decried high license fees, harassment by law enforcers, and poor infrastructure, factors which they say are steadily killing their businesses and employment creation opportunities.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting convened to discuss the review of business licenses at a hotel in Migori town, the business fraternity led by Migori County Business Association, Alfred Mudeizi, said that the cost of licenses remained unreasonably high despite the challenges faced by local entrepreneurs.
He lamented that hoteliers have been forced to dig their own garbage pits but still pay punitive charges for garbage collection that remains uncollected most time.
Mudeizi further criticised the construction of kiosks in front of hotels, arguing that they confuse customers and affect visibility, reducing their chances of making a break-even profit.
Trucks parked along the roadsides in front of hotels were also highlighted as a barrier to both smooth business operations and attracting clients.
Victoria Odero, representing one of the hotels in Migori town, accused the Migori Municipality of perpetual harassment and threats against business people.
She narrated how some traders had been arrested multiple times over delays in paying license fees, citing her own experience of being detained thrice.
According to Odero, lack of clear business levies or the amounts to be paid had worsened the situation, with some officers from the county allegedly causing damage during enforcement.
Benard Onyango, another business operator, echoed the complaints, noting that business owners were often told to pay additional amounts apart from daily remittances, creating confusion and suspicion of backdoor collections.
He also complained about poor street lighting, the high cost of licenses, and the lack of designated parking spaces for trucks.
Onyango added that the presence of police officers patrolling business premises instilled fear among customers, proposing that the county should issue notices instead of intimidating traders.
The meeting was meant to review the progress made between business operators and the county government and establish the best way possible moving forward.
The business community, however, insisted that reforms must be fast-tracked to ease the cost of doing business by lowering license fees, improving waste management, providing adequate lighting, and creating proper parking spaces for trucks to boost local enterprise and protect livelihoods.
The meeting highlighted the growing tension between business owners and authorities, with stakeholders calling for a fair, transparent, and business-friendly environment.