Homa Bay cattle traders threaten tax boycott over poor facilities
By Mustafa Juma, September 5, 2025A section of cattle auction traders in Homa Bay County has threatened to stop remitting taxes to the county government over what they have termed a lack of proper trading facilities.
Speaking on Thursday, September 4, 2025, the traders argued that they have been neglected for almost 10 years. According to them, about 26 auction rings available in the county are being claimed by private developers, leaving them with no place to carry out their trade.
“The issue we are addressing here today is a long-term journey that we have struggled with for almost 10 years. All livestock traders within Homa Bay County at large have been neglected by the county government. We have 26 cattle auction rings that are being claimed by private developers,” one of the traders said.
Homa Bay own-source revenue
They further noted that they account for about 70% of the Homa Bay County own-source revenue, but their sector has been sidelined in terms of development.
They warned that the county government should stop sending revenue collection officers to their workplaces if their concerns are not addressed.
“We have resolved today that we are not going to remit taxes on our side. Therefore, we are not enemies of the county government of Homa Bay. When you look at the own-source revenue collection in Homa Bay, 70% comes from cattle auction traders. Even right now, you can see many projects going on in other sectors, but our sector is silent. There is no action. So we want to notify the county government of Homa Bay today that the director of revenue should not send his junior officers to our working places,” one of the cattle traders’ leaders warned.
“Hakuna ploti imetengwa kwa kufanya uchuuzi wa ng’ombe. Uchuuzi wa ng’ombe unafanywa kwa ploti binafsi, na hii imefanya county government isidevelope hii soko kwa sababu shamba iko kwa mtu mwingine, na tunasema tunataka tujengewe shed. Hata gavana gari yake imejengewa shed, kwanini wapiga kura maisha yao isiangaliwe?” another trader lamented.
Homa Bay county’s response
However, Homa Bay County Chief Officer for Livestock Development Bernard Okoth Omwanda has assured that the cattle auction traders’ concerns will be addressed.
Omwanda confirmed that out of the eight sub-counties in Homa Bay County, four have fully operational cattle auction rings and that there are plans to put up such facilities within all the sub-counties.
He urged the traders not to boycott paying taxes, noting that the move would negatively affect the county.
“We have eight sub-counties. We have done one in Rachuonyo South; that is the Oyugis auction ring. We have done it in Rachuonyo North, which is Nyakweri. We are also in the process of doing one in Rangwe, which is Nyangweso, and then in Ndhiwa, there is one. So these other four sub-counties also need their facilities, and we are spreading our wings slowly, and by the end of a certain period, all the sub-counties will have auction rings to accommodate them. By paying taxes, it is supporting us. The idea of not paying taxes will really affect us because there is nowhere else we can get this money,” Omwanda said.