Tag: Nairobi County news

Nairobi hawkers to pay more taxes under new county budget

Posted on by Ozymandias

Nairobi hawkers will have to dig deeper into their pockets to finance the county’s Sh42.3 billion budget, as the new administration has introduced a number of new taxes.

The County Finance Bill 2023, tabled by the County Executive Committee Member for Finance and Planning, Mr Charles Kerich, has outlined the plans the county plans to put in place to raise Sh19.99 billion, which is its own revenue target.

One of the most significant changes is the increase in the daily market access fee for small traders or hawkers, which has been increased from Sh20 to Sh50 per day.

Other new taxes include Sh1,000 per tonne for fish traders in both formal and informal markets, Sh25 for each small box weighing 50kg of beads, Sh20 per roll of material/fabric, Sh25 per bundle of small ropes (12-24), Sh50 per bundle for larger bundles of ropes, Sh350 for used tyres to be collected, Sh100 for chicken by-products per 90kg bag, Sh50 for chicken by-products per 50kg bag, Sh100 per dozen leeks, Sh50 per 50kg bucket of madafu, Sh10 fee per head for selling of carcass head by products in both informal and formal markets, Sh1,000 per ton for carcasses bone by products, Sh20 for carcasses legs by products (bundle of 12), Sh50 per roll 50kg for hides and animal skin (processed), Sh200 for tomato in a normal box weighing 101 -150kg, Sh150 for tomato in a medium box, Sh50 for 1-50kg of miraa /muguka, Sh100 for 51kg -100kg of miraa /muguka, Sh100 for miraa /muguka pick up for 500kg in formal and informal markets, and Sh100 for ground nuts per 90kg bag.

The new taxes have been met with mixed reactions from hawkers, with some expressing anger and frustration, while others said they were willing to pay the higher fees if it meant that the county would improve their working environment.

The county government has said that the new taxes are necessary to raise revenue to fund its development projects. However, some critics have argued that the taxes are unfair and will only serve to burden the poor.

It remains to be seen how the new taxes will be implemented and whether they will be effective in raising revenue for the county.

El Niño to bring heavy rains, flooding, and disease to Kenya

Posted on by Ozymandias

El Niño conditions have developed in the tropical Pacific for the first time in seven years, and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has warned that this is likely to lead to a surge in global temperatures and disruptive weather and climate patterns.

In Kenya, El Niño is expected to bring heavy rains from September or October, which could lead to flooding, flash floods, and landslides. There is also a risk of disease outbreaks, such as malaria and dengue fever.

WMO says that the probability of the El Niño event continuing during the second half of 2023 is 90% and is expected to be at least moderate in strength. This means that the effects of El Niño are likely to be felt in Kenya for several months.

The Kenya Meteorological Department has said that El Niño is expected to occur during the October-December season. During El Niño, sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean become warmer than average. This can lead to changes in weather patterns, including increased rainfall in some areas and drought in others.

In Kenya, El Niño is typically associated with heavy rains in the south and west of the country. This could lead to flooding in these areas, as well as landslides in areas that are prone to them. There is also a risk of disease outbreaks, such as malaria and dengue fever, as mosquitoes are more likely to breed in wet conditions.

WMO has urged governments around the world to take steps to prepare for the impacts of El Niño. This includes making sure that people are aware of the risks and that they have access to early warning systems. It is also important to take steps to mitigate the effects of El Niño, such as by improving drainage systems and by providing mosquito nets to people at risk of malaria.

The effects of El Niño can be significant, but they are not always predictable. In 1987, for example, the OND season was an El Niño event that did not result in heavy rainfall over Kenya. However, in 2015, the El Niño index was higher than that of 1997 but the country did not experience as much rainfall as it did in 1997.

WMO is monitoring the situation and will be providing timely updates.

Nairobi girls have the lowest fertility in Kenya

Posted on by Ozymandias

A government survey has found that counties in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) have the highest fertility rates in Kenya. The survey, which was released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), found that Mandera has the highest fertility rate at 7.7%, followed by West Pokot with 6.9%, Wajir with 6.8%, and Marsabit with 6.3%.

The survey also found that Nairobi has the lowest fertility rate in the country, at 2.6%. This is followed by Nyamira with 2.7%, Machakos with 2.8%, and Kiambu with 2.9%.

The high fertility rates in ASAL counties are attributed to a number of factors, including illiteracy, lack of access to modern contraceptives, and cultural norms that encourage large families.

The survey also found that the overall fertility rate in Kenya has declined significantly in recent years. In 1989, the average woman had 6.7 children. This number has since declined to 3.4 children in 2022.

The decline in fertility rates is attributed to a number of factors, including increased access to education and family planning services, as well as changes in social and economic conditions.

The survey also found that fertility rates vary significantly depending on a woman’s level of education and wealth. Women with no education have an average of 6.3 children, while women with more than secondary education have an average of 2.8 children.

Similarly, women in the lowest wealth quintile have an average of 5.3 children, while women in the highest wealth quintile have an average of 2.7 children.

The survey’s findings suggest that Kenya is making progress in reducing fertility rates. However, there are still significant disparities in fertility rates between different groups of women. These disparities need to be addressed in order to ensure that all women have access to the resources they need to plan their families.