This archive report was first published on 5 May 2020.
Published on May 5, 2020, a video by Newsnight highlighted the challenges faced by Kenya's tax institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the world grappled with the economic impact of the pandemic, Kenya's tax authority, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), was expected to facilitate businesses and ease their tax burdens.
However, the KRA's response was criticized for being inadequate, with many businesses struggling to cope with the new reality.
According to the video, the KRA's actions were seen as a 'Catch 22' situation, where businesses were forced to choose between paying taxes and risking their livelihoods or defaulting on taxes and facing penalties.
The video featured a discussion on the impact of the pandemic on Kenya's economy and the role of the KRA in facilitating businesses during this time.
