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New bill proposes to streamline licence issuance in North Eastern counties

Gichugu MP Robert Githinji speaking to the journalists after a public participation exercise on the County Licencing—Uniform Procedures 2022 bill in Garissa. (KNA)

By Abdirahman Khalif | 07 Apr 2024

Githinji said that even if different counties enact laws to guide the process in their respective counties, those county assemblies will be guided by this law.

Business communities across the country will soon enjoy a standard process for acquiring business licences if a new bill by the Senate and the National Assembly is passed.

The bill, The County Licencing—Uniform Procedures 2022, seeks to establish standard uniform procedures for licencing by county governments, which are likely to enable business plans around the set policies. This bill will also be more helpful to businesspeople who have outlets in different counties since the process in each county will be the same.

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Speaking to the press after a public participation exercise in Garissa on Saturday, Gichugu MP Robert Githinji noted that the bill does not go to the specific businesses for licences but creates a standard guideline on how the process will be.

Githinji said that even if different counties enact laws to guide the process in their respective counties, those county assemblies will be guided by this law.

Among the areas where the county assemblies may enact further legislation on this bill are the singular licence application framework, categorization of licences, forms of licence application, and fee payment or refund for the applications.

"Among the issues that came up here is the charging of cess for transporters by different county governments. The citizens are in view that we come up with a single licence from the originated county and maybe one for the county where the goods are going instead of having to pay for all counties on the road," Githinji said.

"There were also views that women, youth, and people living with disabilities should be given waivers when applying for licences, especially for small businesses, so that they may uplift their livelihoods," he added.

North Horr MP Wario Guyo urged members of the north and northeastern regions to embrace security measures, noting that investors tend to put up businesses in safer areas.

"There is a correlation between business and safety, and that is why we need to emphasise security in all our regions so that businesses can flourish and let people create employment, reduce poverty, and also embrace people from all regions," Wario said.

Kenya Livestock Marketing Council Chairman, Dubat Amey welcomed the development, saying the failure to have a standardised process for acquiring business licences has had a direct impact on the country's economy.

He said that many potential businessmen have shied away from setting up businesses, fearing exploitation from counties, blaming on the lack of clear guidelines on the same. He further hit out at counties for giving licences to traders involved in illegal businesses, giving an example of those involved in second-generation liquor that has ended up either killing or destroying people's lives.