Hides and skins value chain traders have petitioned the County Assembly of Turkana to review levies imposed on the trade, which they say have made the business unsustainable.
The traders drawn from Kakuma and Lodwar said they rely on the trade for their livelihoods and are now struggling to sustain their businesses due to high charges.
The meeting, supported by Peace Winds Japan, sought to consolidate stakeholders’ views to aid in developing a memorandum to petition the County Assembly to review and amend the cess fee for hides and skins.
Appearing before the County Assembly Committee on Agriculture, Livestock Development, and Fisheries, a Lodwar-based businessman, Isaiah Ewoi, said the County should treat their trade like other businesses to enable them to earn a living.
“Our benchmark visit to West Pokot, Baringo, and Uasin Gishu revealed that Turkana has the highest charges. Turkana charges Sh100 per piece, translating to Sh20,000 for a 10-tonne lorry, while West Pokot charges Sh1,500 per lorry and Baringo charges Sh2,000,” Ewoi explained.
Ewoi urged the committee to harmonize cess fees, licenses, and transportation permits for hides and skins in the Finance Bill 2026/2027 to ensure the charges are fair.
He confirmed the main market for hides and skins is in Athi River, Machakos County, which is far from Turkana, further increasing transport costs.
The Deputy Director of Revenue, Hellen Nakaru, said the uptake of hides and skins cess has been low compared to previous years, leading to low revenue collection.
“In the last financial year, 2025/2026, the county collected Sh2 million from hides and skins cess; the total revenue from slaughter fees and hides and skins was Sh15 million each against a target of Sh16 million,” said Nakaru.
She expressed hope that the Department of Veterinary Services and stakeholders would prioritise revamping the Turkana Tannery at Naurenpuu in Nadapal to boost hides and skins trade and enhance revenue collection
The Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, Livestock Development, and Fisheries, Samal Etubon, said there is a need to review the Finance Bill currently before the Assembly to address stakeholders’ concerns.
“Together with the committee, we will support any amendment brought before the House for the benefit of our people. The sub-sector business must thrive to help the county raise revenue. I urge the Department of Finance and Economic Planning to develop more revenue streams in future,” said Etubon.
The Leader of Majority, Stephen Edukon, emphasized that the county must raise adequate revenue but faulted the Department of Revenue for failing to collect fees from boda boda operators and parking spaces within the municipality to expand the revenue base.
“The livestock sector is the backbone of Turkana pastoralists, and we must make deliberate efforts to protect livestock value chains to ensure food security in every household,” said Peter Ikaru, the Chief Officer for Livestock Development, Fisheries, and Aquaculture.
He called on the committee to support the review and amendment of sections on hides and skins fees, licenses, and transport permits to encourage more traders and ensure economic sustainability of the trade.
The Director of Veterinary Services, Dr. Benson Long’or, underscored the directorate’s commitment to the development of the hides and skins sector, noting that a Leather Development Officer has been deployed.
“We have a designated Leather Development Officer in the department, as the county prioritizes the leather value chain for ago-processing and value addition,” he said.
He added that pastoralism is the major economic driver in Turkana, noting that hides and skins are an important by-product of the livestock value chain, particularly from goats, sheep, and cattle.
Dr. Long’or urged livestock traders, associations, and market councils to participate in public forums on budgets and finance bills to ensure their views are considered.
Fred Nathan, a project officer with Peace Winds Japan, said the organization convened the forum following growing dissatisfaction among hides and skins traders, who cited high fees that have significantly reduced their business viability.
“We responded to their call to support stakeholders to engage the Assembly Committee to review and amend the existing taxation regime.
By Peter Gitonga
