Investors in Malindi, Kilifi County have urged the government to create fair investment policies and by laws to help in job creation.
Speaking during the Progress Welfare Association of Malindi (PWAM) Investment Forum at Tropical hotel that was attended by Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro, the investors drawn from salt firms, real investments, tourism and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) decried harsh laws, land invasion, exorbitant land rates and taxes as some of the hindrance to their growth.
Led by the Chairman of KCCI in Kilifi County Majid Swaleh and the Chairperson of Kenya Hotel Keepers and Caterers Association (KHKCA) Mauree Awuor, the investors urged the government to relax laws on taxation, pay pending bills and prevent land invasions to give investors confidence of investing in Kilifi and Kenya.
Majid in particular decried the rampant invasion of land owned by investors especially in Malindi Sub County as a turn off for investors.
“So many firms and people who have bought land with the purpose of investing have lost their land and that makes a lot of problems for the business community because we don’t know what kind of investment we should do.
“You have a title deed but we are told the title deed is not worth, hence it demoralizes investors who have no option but to run away as they count their losses as they leave squatters to invade their land,” he said.
Awuor claimed that charges by airlines flying to Malindi airport were on a higher side hence many would- be investors were finding it expensive to travel to the town for business.
The chairperson for PWAM Cate Mwikali said that investors especially those in the hotel industry had embraced the green economy solutions such as solar street lighting and circular economy initiatives which she said promote sustainability through recycling and resource efficiency hence driving Malindi towards a more resilient and inclusive economic model.
“The hotels from all the way to Mayungu segregate their waste and we need the government to walk with us very closely so that when they promote tourism, they are promoting something sustainable and we are already working with the department of health in Kilifi County,” she said.
Ann Murithi from the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) in charge of salt firms in Gongoni area of Magarini Sub County said that the firms were being unfairly slapped with very many taxes from the national and county government and called for harmonization of those taxes since some of them were overlapping each other leading to double taxation.
“Our industries need support from the government especially in the area of taxes because most of them are overburdened by a number of taxes that affect them and all I would ask is that collaboration is very key in bringing together a conducive business environment,” she said.
At the same time, Governor Mung’aro promised to address some of the issues raised by the investors and cautioned against subdivision of land into small pieces.
“On land subdivision we have a big problem because people come from other areas and buy land in rural Malindi then subdivide it into small plots, that one we will not allow and I direct the department of lands to halt any further subdivision,” he said.
He also warned of fake pending bills demanded by some hotels in the area saying that there was no proof of engagement and paperwork to warrant their payment.
Written by Alphonce Gari, TV47 correspondent.
