We just want to survive: Small traders plead for lower taxes, fuel prices and honest governance
Small-scale traders and ordinary Kenyans are calling for lower taxes, reduced fuel prices, and a more compassionate government to ease the high cost of living and doing business.
Small-scale traders and other ordinary Kenyans have expressed hopes of an easing cost of living and doing business, existing taxes lowered, lower fuel prices and a more compassionate government that fulfils its promises.
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Elizabeth, a small-scale cereals and vegetables trader
What I want: A bearable cost of living and business to recover.
I've been doing this business for a long time, but now it's ruined; there's no meaningful business as people are not buying as they used to in the recent past. Everything is now costly.
My prayer is that the government, in the 2025 Finance Bill, looks at the things that are very important to the people at the bottom: cooking oil, unga, rice, for instance, and prioritise them most in tax cuts in the year ahead.
Transport cost also needs to be looked at by revising taxes on fuel.
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Elizabeth, a small-scale vegetable trader. She hopes the 2025 Finance Bill will result in a bearable cost of living for businesses to recover. (Photo: Justine Ondieki)
Ruben Ramiro, cooking gas dealer
What I want: Predictability in commodity pricing and the general business environment.
Sometimes we sell gas to customers at a low price, and other times at a higher price, depending on where we refill it from. Often, when gas levels have been low and we go to refill, we find that the price has increased. When we return, we have to adjust our selling price accordingly.
The government, in their new taxes, should generally reduce taxation on such products, either directly or indirectly.
For instance, we are grappling with the high cost of transporting gas, one of the main factors making the pricing of gas shoot.
On other commodities generally, I’ve heard the narrative from top government officials that the cost of commodities like unga is coming down. When we watch the news every day, we always hear about it. But, of course, when you go to buy it, you find that it is still at the same high price.
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Abdi, eggs wholesale trader
What I want: Cut down the cost of production, especially on food commodities.
I have been in business for quite a while now, and lately, things have taken a turn for the worse. Sales have dropped sharply, and it’s becoming harder to stay afloat.
Since January, I’ve had to increase the price of a crate of eggs from around Sh270 early in the year to nearly Sh400. This isn’t something I wanted to do, but the rising cost of animal feeds and transportation has left me with no choice.
Customers are buying less because they simply can’t afford the new prices.
I’m really hoping the government will consider reducing taxes on animal feeds and fuel in the upcoming Finance Bill. These are essential to our operations, and the current costs are just too high for small traders like me.
If these taxes were lowered, it would ease the pressure on us, help stabilise prices, and bring back customers. All I want is a chance to keep my business going and continue supporting my family and community.
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Gloria, who sells smokies and eggs. She says business has gone down due to rising commodity prices. (Photo: Justine Ondieki)
Gloria, smokie and eggs vendor
What I want: Address corruption to ensure fair taxation, lower fuel costs.
Business has gone down, it's hard. Even when I sell, I can't make as many sales as I did last year.
Where I source eggs, I now access them at a higher price on the back of heightened transportation costs, as told mostly by the suppliers. It's my prayer that the new taxes will come in handy to bring down the cost of fuel.
I’m also deeply concerned about how public funds are being used in this country. I believe the government must urgently tackle corruption, starting from the very top.
There can be no real discipline in tax expenditure if those in leadership aren’t held accountable. So much of what could go toward improving services and easing the burden on citizens is lost through corruption, and it’s simply not fair.
It's my prayer that the government takes meaningful action on corruption. If we truly want a fair system, the fight against corruption has to be serious, and it has to start at the top.
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