Kikuyu: Kikuyu Member of County Assembly (MCA) James Kamau has proposed an amendment to the Kiambu County Finance Bill, 2026 to exempt businesses from paying additional signage fees, in a move aimed at easing the financial burden on traders and improving compliance with county revenue regulations.
According to Kenya News Agency, the proposal followed outrage from business owners in Kikuyu Sub-county over invoices issued and signages impounded despite payment of the mandatory Single Business Permit (SBP) fees. Kikuyu Ward MCA James Kamau spoke on the matter after he visited the Kikuyu Sub-county revenue offices to establish the cause of complaints raised by traders.
He revealed that a loophole in the county’s Finance Act 2025 had aggravated the situation. The MCA, while referring to a copy of the Kiambu County Finance Act, 2025 admitted that Article 20, which governs signage charges, refers to the Fourth Schedule outlining applicable fees but does not expressly exempt traders from paying separate signage fees after obtaining a Single Business Permit.
“To cushion traders, we shall be proposing an amendment in the Kiambu County Finance Bill, 2026 to provide for a specific signage size per business to be allowed upon payment of SBP fees without attracting additional charges,” he said.
The proposed amendment, if adopted by the County Assembly, would allow businesses to display standard-sized signboards as part of their business permits, eliminating what many traders have described as double charging.
Kamau further urged the traders to actively participate in the ongoing public participation process on the proposed Kiambu County Finance Bill, 2026 by attending town hall meetings and submitting written memoranda to the Assembly’s Finance Committee.
“I encourage the Kikuyu business community to document and submit their recommendations for consideration by the Assembly’s Finance Committee. Their voice is key in all these issues,” he added.
At the same time, the MCA appealed to county revenue officers to adopt a more consultative approach in enforcing revenue laws, noting that many businesses continue to face difficult economic conditions.
“In the meantime, our appeal to the revenue team is simple: let us not push traders too hard. Times are hard. We should embrace encouragement and structured engagement to enhance compliance, rather than forceful enforcement that breeds mistrust and defiance,” Kamau urged.
The County Finance Bill is expected to undergo public participation before debate and consideration by the Kiambu County Assembly, where proposed amendments from residents and stakeholders will be considered before its adoption.
