Despite all the corruption cases that are hanging over most county officials’ heads, these waheshimiwa still find time to come up with ridiculous by-laws that can make you foam at the mouth.
This week, we sample some of the weird by-laws:
No chewing githeri in toilets
Believe it or not, this is one of the by-laws by the Nairobi City County. There are notices in public toilets declaring that it is unlawful to munch maharagwe rice, githeri and maembe in the toilets and that offenders will be fined!
Do not disturb the dead
In Siaya, if you want to ‘resurrect’ your kin briefly for legal or cultural reasons, you will have to pay the county government Sh50,000 to exhume the body. For kids, you part with Sh30,000, while exhuming infants will cost you Sh20,000.
No ‘doggy style’
Dogs having sex hadharani is forbidden in Nairobi. Should your mongrel decide to sow wild oats publicly and they get caught by kanjo guys, you would be slapped with a Sh5,000 fine.
The Nairobi City County Dog Control and Welfare Act will fine owners of both dogs, and if they both belong to one person, then the fine will be Sh10,000, that is Sh5,000 for each dog.
The Act states that: “A person shall not keep or leave a bitch on heat in any place which will permit a male dog to approach it. And no keeper of a bitch shall allow a male dog to approach it unless both the keeper of the bitch and the keeper of the dog desire the approach for the purpose of breeding.”
Pay up for selling mutura
This ‘African sausage’ filled with bits of meat, blood and served with kachumbari is mostly served when night falls.
Due to high demand in Murang’a and Nyeri, the counties have introduced a levy for the traders. One has to pay Sh30 every day to sell the mutura.
You’ll be roasted for mahindi-choma
In Trans-Nzoia, the home of maize farming, maize roasters are expected to pay for that biashara. The county’s fathers, in their wisdom, have decided to grill some money out of mahindi choma traders.
Take the cue and panga laini!
When you are boarding matatus at designated city termini, Nairobi City County Government by-laws states that you should queue if you are six or more passengers.
Standing in a disorderly manner is unlawful. Similarly, jostling to board a matatu, as is getting into a vehicle through any part that is not the door.
‘Import duty’ in Nandi
Nandi County has not been left behind in trying to generate revenue by all means possible.
Moving into or pass through this county with goods from outside its boundaries has been targeted for taxation. The county government introduced supplies and distributor’s licences for such to pay for.
Tugange ya Embu!
In Embu County, sorcery is a money-minting venture. Prominent personalities, politicians and businessmen consult the waganga often.
They classify them as herbalists, divine healers and traditional health service providers.
The county assembly amended the County Finance Bill to abolish taxation and licensing fee on waganga.
Leaders outwitted each other in supporting the medicine men, mostly arguing that theirs is a craft that is a source of livelihood for many.
Ilianza na ka-selfie, double tax!
Obsessed with selfies in urinals, street corridors and in every open space? Though it sounds exciting, in Nyeri County, that can earn the county government some coins.
To generate more revenue, the government has introduced fines for anyone caught taking selfies ovyo ovyo! You will part with Sh100 for that photo.
No ‘rush hour’ in Kisii
If you are the kind of trader who dashes or fights for customers, then you should be aware that the Kisii County government doesn’t allow that uncouth behaviour.
Kisii askaris have powers to evict such a trader from the market and if hauled to the courts and found guilty, fined Sh50,000 or six-months in prison!
