A group of Somali Cartels has declared war on the Kenya Revenue Authority because they are very unhappy with the authority's war on tax evaders that have been robbing taxpayers billions per year.
The group of Somali traders is now sponsoring some individuals to smear the authority in order to blackmail them into submitting to their tax-evasion tendencies.
The proxy group is now demanding that some two KRA officials take full responsibility for doing their jobs over what they term as delays and inconveniences caused by the adoption of ISO intelligence and strategic operations
In 2019, The Kenya Revenue Authority appointed two commissioners and a deputy commissioner in charge of tax compliance. While making the appointments, CG Githii Mburu added that KRA was focused on building trust through facilitation, so as to foster compliance with the existing tax and customs legislation.
It all seems some Somali businessmen read cartels, have been pushed to the corner, and want the ISO to go slow on them blaming delays as the department undertakes a rigorous process to trap tax evaders.
A few years ago, these Somali businessmen had mastered the shipping system to Kenya and knew how to evade tax by bribing the right people in KRA, KEBS, Kenya Airports Authority, Kenya Ports Authority and the likes and now are resistant to change.
Somali’s import their stuff duty-free. They get their goods into Kenya using select routes. They then sell slightly cheaper than the Indians or the Kikuyu’s and have been driving them out of business. Not because of anything else, just not paying tax. If they paid taxes like other Kenyans, do you think they’d be awash with cash, buying every property like there’s no tomorrow?
A few weeks ago, we talked about how some Somali businessmen manipulate our policy-makers, where they use their pooled resources to bribe Government officials to sing to their tune. They are the ones who used to bribe NTSA officials to mount roadblocks around Nairobi CBD which ended up killing the nightlife of the city.
So now, pubs and recreational facilities which were built by locals are now being turned into Somali coffee shops, and you’re all acting okay with it?