Kenya revenue authority has been working around the clock to collect Sh1.61 trillion for the 2018/2019 year. Between July 2018 to March 2019, it collected Sh1.02 trillion leaving it with an Sh585.27 billion gap to fill before June. The agency has however been faced with massive corruption cases by staff who have been colluding with cartels to clear irregularities and pocked the proceeds after.
Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Commissioner-General John Njiraini (left) with taxpayer Fridah Sigilai explaining how the mobile iTax works
KRA has fired 75 officials alleged to have been involved in assisting of tax evasion and facilitating access to services through bribery and corruption.
Investigations into the rackets are said to have been in progress for months before the tax agency took the initiative.
KRA raiding staff offices and detaining staff members in their offices. Since 10AM, nobody understands what is going on. Kwani these KRA staff members don’t have rights? Staff barricaded at Times Tower, Corporate Business Center and Sameer branches.— Robert Alai (@RobertAlai) May 10, 2019
Undercover assistance was provided by national law enforcement agencies to trail money and communication.
KRA said it will intensify focus on lifestyle audits to undertake up to 50 such audit cases annually.
Meanwhile, arrangements are in high gear to implement an electronic Intelligence Gathering System expected to be in place within three months.
“The practices in question include facilitation of irregular/fraudulent clearance of cargo, fraudulent amendment of tax returns so as to help taxpayers evade taxes and the irregular issuance of tax compliance certificates,” the taxman said in a statement.
KRA said of those cases, 61 are from the domestic taxes department while 14 are from the customs and border control.
Staff in Nairobi were the most affected with 61 cases recorded.