Kiambu, Kenya – Traders in Kiambu town on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest, demanding urgent government intervention over what they termed as unlawful taxation, harassment, and abuse of power by county officers.
The demonstrators accused enforcement officers of arresting them and confiscating their wares for failing to pay levies on time, despite a struggling economy that has left many unable to sustain their businesses. They called for the immediate withdrawal of all pending cases against traders and the release of impounded goods.
The protesters, drawn from Kirigiti, Ndumberi, Thindigua, Gakagu, Gaturitu, and Kiambu town, marched to the county headquarters seeking an audience with Governor Kimani Wamatangi. However, they were told he was not in the office and later proceeded to the county assembly to formally present their grievances.
“We wanted to have a conversation with the governor because we are taxpayers and any decision the county makes should be made in consultation with us,” said Faith Ruguru, one of the traders. She lamented that many traders were struggling to provide for their families, with some skipping meals due to dwindling returns.
“When you confiscate goods from such a person, how will he be able to pay taxes? We want those items returned to their owners as soon as possible,” Ruguru added.
The traders, who were escorted by police, accused county enforcement officers of persistent misconduct and demanded the resignation of six senior officials, including the municipal manager. They also urged the administration to make business permits and licenses affordable, particularly for small-scale traders, and to standardize them across the county.
They further demanded that levies collected from specific sectors be reinvested in those same sectors, citing poor drainage systems in Kiambu town that require urgent repair. “We don’t want the money collected from us to go towards paying doctors. Let the money collected from hospitals do that,” Ruguru said.
Jawabu Njoroge, another trader, decried gaping manholes and blocked drainage systems that pose risks to residents, calling for immediate reforms in county governance and better regulation of the business environment.
The petition was received by the chairs of the county assembly’s Trade and Finance committees, who urged traders to participate in a scheduled public participation forum on the Kiambu County Finance Bill 2025/2026 at Kiambu Community Hall on Thursday. MCAs pledged to deliberate on their grievances, emphasizing the need for structured dialogue between the county government and traders.
