The Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja has formed a committee comprising representatives from the county government, the office of the regional police commander, and the association of bar owners that will sit for one week and allow for review of the Finance Act 2023/24 in the interest of both parties.
They are expected to come up with a figure that each of the bar owners would be able to pay without inquiring about losses or losing employees within seven days before submitting a report to the governor.
“We will form a working group between us that has seven days to come up with what you have agreed. Look at those proposals and come up with something that is favorable for both the county and you (bar owners).” Sakaja stated.
He said there are different categories of bars and they cannot all pay the same amount.
The bar association heads appealed for the centralization of licensing claiming to be paying for twenty-nine different licenses.
“We have agreed on digitalization. We want the system digitalized to avoid involving many people which brings corruption. We appreciate Sakaja for calling us and agreeing to work with us.” Bar, Hotels and Liquor Traders Association (BHALITA) Secretary General Boniface Gachoka stated.
This comes two weeks after the bar owners called on the county government to clarify the new license charges that they will pay to operate businesses.
In the new law, general retail alcoholic drinks, in premises situated within Nairobi County will pay annual fees of Sh100, 000 up from Sh25, 000.
Retail alcohol drinks also known as Off License will pay Sh50, 000 from Sh12, 000 which they used to pay for an annual license.
