Nassir accuses Gov't of intimidation over muguka ban after KRA raids his radio station
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Mombasa Governor
Abdulswamad Nassir has accused the government of sending Kenya Revenue
Authority (KRA) officials to his Rahma FM radio station on Thursday under the
guise of tax compliance issues.
Addressing
journalists at the station while KRA officials were conducting a thorough
search of the facility, 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.
"Kama
mumetumwa kuja hapa kutuharass we are going to take this matter even further.
Kama muguka ndio inafanya hii mambo mpaka mnaona ya kwamba mtatushika namna
hii, kwa lazima, we will continue. Mmekuja hapa na tayari you have already
threatened to carry transmitters. We will not be cowed."
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, particularly children.
"For the
first time in my life nimepelekewa kesi tano. Yote kwa sababu ya mambo ya
muguka. Kesi nne zote zimesema kuwa hii ban iendelee. Moja ambayo hatujakuwa
served, ambayo inatoka Embu pahali muguka yenyewe inatoka, inasema ya kuwa hiyo
ban iweze kuwa suspended," said Nassir.
"We will not
be cowed. Kama nikufunga biashara zetu fungeni kama mnaona hii radio inaongea
kuhusiana na madhara ya muguka. Court order ambazo zimekuja will be the end of
this conversation. This conversation is not going to cease!"
Acknowledging his
willingness to participate in a proposed meeting convened by President William
Ruto to discuss the ban, Nassir emphasized his firm stance against the use of
the stimulant drug, noting that it would not change even in the presence of the
head of state.
"I respect
that the President ameitisha mkutano ambao utakuwa wa viongozi wenzangu; when
that meeting comes we will notify you. We are going to tell the President
exactly what we are saying. We do not want a product to be enforced on our
people. We are going to state it the way it is; statistics show that this
product is hurting our people," he said.
"We cannot
put money in front of a whole generation. Viongozi wamekuwa na kiburi ya
kuongea ya kuwa watu wetu ni lazima watumie muguka na madawa za kulevya. When
someone tries to stand up and speak, you see things like this. Hii tumezoea
boss; mi nimekula teargas ya kutosha."
In a subsequent
statement, Nassir's political outfit, ODM, likewise slammed the powers that be
over their alleged role in the incident.
In the statement
signed by ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, the party called out the
government for supporting the crackdown on illegal liquor while neglecting the
issue of muguka, a reference seemingly aimed at Deputy President Rigathi
Gachagua, who has spearheaded the nationwide drive in Central Kenya.
"We note with
concern the silence of the so-called champions of a sober country, keen on
fighting alcohol abuse in their political backyards but quiet when muguka
ravages the young people of the Coast," said Sifuna.
"It is also unfortunate
to see none other than President William Ruto himself polarizing and
politicizing the war against the drug menace in Mombasa by attempting to
countermand the decision taken by the three county governments and pledging
public funds to ensure our youth have unrestricted access to Muguka
essentially."
Sifuna added that
barely 48 hours after Ruto's statement, muguka was forcefully ferried to
Mombasa markets and unknown persons claiming to be agents of KRA raided Radio
Rahma premises claiming tax arrears.
"Upon
inquiry, the KRA leadership denied knowledge of such action through official
channels. Sources who did not want to be disclosed indicated that this was
action based on orders from above in reaction to the economic losses that muguka
traders faced during Governor Nassir’s ban," said Sifuna.
"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."
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