KRA defends raid at Mombasa Governor Nassir's radio station
![KRA defends raid at Mombasa Governor Nassir's radio station KRA defends raid at Mombasa Governor Nassir's radio station](https://citizentv.obs.af-south-1.myhuaweicloud.com/125407/conversions/Abdulswamad-og_image.webp)
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir during a past function. PHOTO | COURTESY
The Kenya Revenue
Authority (KRA) has justified its Wednesday raid at Mombasa Governor
Abdulswamad Nassir's Rahma Broadcasting Corporation.
In a statement to
newsrooms in the evening, the taxman asserted that the exercise was conducted
in accordance with established procedures, including the issuance of demand
notices to the company.
According to KRA,
the broadcaster neither complied to its tax obligations, neither honoured
commitments to do so after being contacted by the State agency.
"Following a
comprehensive review, it was determined that Rahma Broadcasting Limited was
non-compliant in filing and paying various tax obligations," the statement
from KRA's South Region Coordinator reads.
"Engagements
with the management of Rahma Broadcasting Limited have been ongoing since taxes
became due and payable. Commitments were reached, however the taxpayer did not
honour them. Today's activity at Rahma Broadcasting Limited is therefore part
of normal KRA's Enforcement operation.
Following the
raid, Nassir insinuated that the sudden scrutiny from the taxman stemmed
from his recent decision to outlaw the sale, distribution and consumption of
khat leaves, popularly known as muguka, in Mombasa.
"Leo watu
wamekuja na vitisho. Hii mambo ya kila mmoja anakuja hapa and then ukiuliza
wadosi wao wanakuambia ya kwamba sio wao wamewatuma. It means that people are
taking orders from elsewhere," said Nassir.
While citing four
different court orders that upheld the ban, a visibly irked and defiant Nassir
expressed that he would not yield to pressure to revoke the ban for the sake of
Mombasa residents.
In a subsequent
statement, Nassir's political outfit, ODM, likewise slammed the powers that be
over their alleged role in the incident.
"The ODM
party wishes to condemn the weaponization of state agencies like KRA to harass
and intimidate Governor Nassir and his colleagues who are only looking out for
those they represent. The Party stands with the Governor in his efforts to rid
Mombasa of the drug menace once and for all," stated ODM Secretary General
Edwin Sifuna.
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