This archive report was first published on 9 December 2019.
Kenya Revenue Authority Cracks Down on Tax Cheats ¶
On December 9, 2019, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) began a bold crackdown on high net worth individuals and companies who have ignored tax payment plans.
According to KRA Commissioner for Domestic Taxes Department Elizabeth Meyo, the taxman has compiled a list of high-risk tax debtors and is seeking to recover Sh20 billion through assets and income seizure.
The Tax Procedures Act empowers KRA to seek taxes directly from third parties, seize and auction property to recover unpaid tax, and freeze tax cheats' property transactions.
"Enforcement measures include attachments and caveating property, issuance of agency notices to third parties including banks to recover debts owed," said Ms Meyo.
The crackdown follows an order from President Uhuru Kenyatta in November last year for KRA to keep a watch on high net-worth individuals whose lifestyles are not in tandem with the taxes they pay.
So far, big names like tycoon Humphrey Kariuki and owners of Keroche Breweries -- Tabitha Karanja and her husband Joseph Karanja — have been charged in court, where they are facing accusations relating to alleged non-payment of taxes running into tens of billions of shillings.
