- Hides and skins traders in Turkana are seeking changes to levies affecting their businesses
- Traders want charges and permits reviewed to make the sector more viable
- County officials are considering reforms to support the livestock value chain and improve revenue collection
Traders in Turkana’s hides and skins sector have petitioned the County Assembly to review levies they say are pushing the business to the brink of collapse.
Drawn largely from Kakuma and Lodwar, the traders say the trade sustains their families, but escalating charges have made it increasingly difficult to stay afloat. Their concerns were raised during a forum supported by Peace Winds Japan, held to gather stakeholder input for a memorandum seeking amendments to the cess fee charged on hides and skins.
Appearing before the County Assembly Committee on Agriculture, Livestock Development and Fisheries, Lodwar-based trader Isaiah Ewoi argued that the sector deserves the same treatment as other businesses to allow traders to earn a decent living.
He told the committee that a benchmarking visit to West Pokot, Baringo and Uasin Gishu exposed a wide gap in charges. According to Ewoi, Turkana levies Sh20 per piece of hide or skin, which adds up to Sh20,000 for a single 10-tonne lorry load, compared to Sh1,500 per lorry in West Pokot and Sh2,000 in Baringo.
He called for the harmonisation of cess fees, licences and transport permits within the Finance Bill 2026/2027, noting that traders already face high costs ferrying their goods to the main market in Athi River, Machakos County, given its distance from Turkana.
Deputy Director of Revenue Hellen Nakaru told the committee that uptake of the hides and skins cess has declined compared to previous years, dragging down overall collections. She said the county raised Sh1.5 million from the cess in the 2025/2026 financial year, short of a Sh2 million target, while combined revenue from slaughter fees and hides and skins stood at Sh13.5 million against a Sh22 million goal.
Nakaru added that she hopes the Department of Veterinary Services and other stakeholders will prioritise reviving the Turkana Tannery at Naurenpuu in Nadapal, which she believes could revitalise the trade and boost revenue.
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Committee chairperson Hon Samal Etubon acknowledged the need to revisit the Finance Bill currently before the Assembly to respond to the traders’ concerns, pledging the committee’s backing for any amendment that would help the sub-sector grow and strengthen the county’s revenue base. He also urged the Department of Finance and Economic Planning to explore new revenue streams going forward.
Leader of Majority Hon Stephen Edukon agreed that the county needs to raise more revenue overall, but criticised the Department of Revenue for failing to collect fees from boda boda operators and parking within the municipality, saying these gaps should be closed instead of overburdening traders.
Peter Ikaru, Chief Officer for Livestock Development, Fisheries and Aquaculture, described the livestock sector as central to the livelihoods of Turkana’s pastoralist communities, stressing the importance of protecting value chains linked to it to safeguard household food security. He urged the committee to support amendments to the fees, licences and permits governing hides and skins to attract more traders into the business.
Director of Veterinary Services Dr Benson Long’or said his department remains committed to growing the sector, pointing to the deployment of a dedicated Leather Development Officer to support agro-processing and value addition within the leather value chain. He noted that hides and skins, sourced mainly from goats, sheep and cattle, remain an important by-product of Turkana’s pastoral economy, and encouraged traders, associations and market councils to take part in future public forums on budgets and Finance Bills.
Fred Nathan, a Project Officer with Peace Winds Japan, said the organisation organised the forum after noting widespread frustration among traders over fees they say have eroded the viability of their businesses, prompting the push to engage the Assembly Committee on reviewing the existing tax regime.
By Benedict Aoya
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