County Government urges Boda Boda Operators to call off pending strike over proposed levy.

 Kisumu Deputy Governor Dr. Mathews Owili with visitors at his office recently.He has urged Boda Boda Operators to call off their pending strike to protest against the proposed tax on them and create room for dialogue-File Photo.

By Dickson Odhiambo.

October 4,2017.

County Government urges Boda Boda Operators to call off pending strike over proposed levy.

THE County Government of Kisumu has urged the Boda Boda operators within the County to immediately call of their pending strike schedule for tomorrow over the proposed monthly levy they are asked to pay.

Kisumu Deputy Governor Dr. Mathews Owili says the Boda Boda Operators should call off the pending strike so as to allow room for dialogue with the County Government on the issue of wanting them to pay monthly levy of shs 500.

In a signed press statement on Wednesday, Dr. Owili said this is just a proposal in the Finance Bill 2017 that the County Assembly debated and passed last week.

He says the proposals in the Finance Bill 2017 affects various groups in different ways and the Boda Boda operators being one of the groups has a right to express their views and objection which is very normal.

Dr. Owili says his boss who is Governor Prof. Peter Anyang Nyong’o has heard the Boda Boda Operators’ views and will not ignore them.

He has assured them that their views will be considered before the Governor assents the said bill into law.

“The Governor has heard their views and will not ignore them.Their views will be considered before the Governor assents the bill into law,” Dr. Owili says.

He says the County Government is aware that the Boda Boda operators have organized a peaceful demonstration to express their dissatisfaction with this bill.

“However, it should be clear to everyone that these are just proposals for revenue generation and have not been effected into law,” he adds.

A number of Boda Boda Operators who held a meeting in Kisumu city on Tuesday resolved to hold a peaceful demonstration tomorrow while protesting the proposal to tax them shs 500 monthly as contained in the Finance Bill 2017 while arguing that the tax is high and wants it reduced to shs 200 while some of them fully opposed to it, wanting it to be removed from the Finance Bill 2017.

However, a number of Kisumu County Residents have welcomed the proposal to tax the Boda Boda operators saying that this will also be a way by the county Government to generate revenue locally.

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