Traders have pointed fingers at Sakaja over a new levy targeting liquor traders who sell alcohol through online delivery platforms, despite the businesses already paying licences to the Nairobi City County Government.
Under the new charges, liquor sellers using Glovo, UberEats, Bolt Food, Jumia or any other online platform are required to pay an additional Ksh 100,000 per physical location for each platform they use. The levy, described by critics as the Sakaja Online Liquor Tax, adds another financial burden to businesses already paying county licensing fees.
The charges mean traders using several delivery platforms could be forced to pay hundreds of thousands of shillings in additional levies simply to sell their products online.
Kanjo Raids Traders Over Unpaid Taxes
Liquor traders who fail to pay the new levy face raids by Nairobi County inspectorate officers, commonly known as Kanjo. During the operations, traders report that officers confiscate goods and arrest workers at affected businesses.
The enforcement has put traders under pressure, with business owners facing the prospect of losing stock and having employees arrested over charges they dispute.
Critics accuse Sakaja’s administration of using county enforcement officers to force traders to comply with the new financial demands instead of addressing concerns about the legality and fairness of the levy.
Why Tax Online Businesses Again?
The new charges raise a fundamental question: why should liquor sellers pay additional county levies simply because they use online platforms to reach customers?
These businesses already pay licences to the county government to operate. Critics argue that imposing another Ksh 100,000 charge for every delivery platform amounts to penalising traders for embracing digital commerce.
They accuse Sakaja’s administration of using every available means to squeeze money out of Nairobi businesses, including imposing what they describe as illegal taxes on liquor sellers.
The county government must explain the legal basis for the charges and why businesses should face separate levies depending on the number of online platforms they use.
County Accused of Strangling Businesses
Instead of making it easier for businesses to grow, the additional charges threaten to increase operating costs for liquor sellers already dealing with rent, wages, supplier payments and existing licences.
Small traders who depend on online orders could be forced to abandon delivery platforms, increase prices or scale down their operations to meet the additional costs.
They say a county government should support businesses, not strangle them through multiple levies and raids. They argue that Nairobi needs policies that encourage trade and create jobs rather than measures that make it harder for enterprises to survive.
The affected traders are demanding a review of the new charges, an explanation of their legal basis and an end to enforcement measures targeting businesses that have not paid the disputed levy.
Their demand is clear: Justice for online traders.
