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{
    "id": 1269263,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1269263/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 323,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Tabitha Mutinda",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "these businesses are held on together tomorrow, they thrive and become multi-billion businesses. They must have a starting point. However, on the payment of devolved government, it is very important to ensure that there is a conducive working business environment between different counties. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, one of the factors that has been affecting businesses is the issue of license. For example, a manufacturer in Machakos who wants to move goods to a place like Kisumu, the number of payments that he need to make are many. Hence, this increases the cost of the end product eventually. We are going further to look for international business and that is okay, but, we are also supposed to encourage inter-county businesses. One of the best way to encourage inter-county business is to ensure that factors of license cost should be looked into. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I appreciate what our Nairobi governor, Hon. Sakaja has done. In his manifesto, he focused on ensuring that there is going to be one license instead of having over 10 licenses for one business. If Sen. Mariam Omar could include that, we encourage and propose that all counties should follow suit what Nairobi County is doing in terms of having one license. This makes it easier for business people, that instead of moving from one office to the other, they are able to have one encompassed license that covers everything broadly. The more they are spread the more issues that have been mentioned earlier like corruption are prone and continue because you give room for people to move from one office to another for different licenses. Sen. Mariam Omar should consider this and include a clause that talks about one license for each county. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, on Clause 22, I note that it had indicated a duration of 14 days to be given. It requires licenses that notify a respective a county licensing authority within 14 days. I suggest that we put it to a maximum of 21 days so that in the event there is feedback that needs to be given, there will be a seven-day notice. You realize the Government procedure is usually seven days’ notice for most communication that is done. A maximum of 21 days will be fine. As a Member of the Committee on Finance and Budget, I note that we have been encouraging counties to have own-source revenue. It is by curbing these licenses to one that will ensure that counties increase their own-source revenue instead of depending on the National Treasury. Counties will encourage business people to do business within different counties and even the ease of licenses becomes much easier, unlike when they are spread. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, if Sen. Mariam Omar can consider different products with different amounts on what needs to be charged. There are different products supplied in different counties. It would be better if someone is doing timber business and another production of bags, those charges should depend on the product. In our Finance Bill, we focused on increasing tax on products like the fish products in order to discourage the import of these products, so that our local fishermen do much more business. In that regard, we will be encouraging more business within the counties themselves. We will be improving our counties and increasing their own-source revenue. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard Services,Senate."
}