Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi has raised alarm over 93 choppers owned by renowned politicians and retired civil servants.
According to the city lawyer, none of the over 93 helicopters at Wilson Airport is owned by a corporate executive.
"All are owned by politicians/retired civil servants. If President Uhuru Kenyatta is serious about fighting corruption, let him ground the same, force the owners to explain the source of the purchase price," Ahmednasir stated.
This is despite corporate executives including CEOs and senior managers being one of the best remunerated category of employees with civil servants earning considerably less.
The value of the 93 helicopters is between Ksh19 billion and Ksh29 billion which raises concern over possible money laundering.
Interestingly, the Value Added Tax (VAT) Act of 2014 exempted taxes on “Helicopters of an unladen weight not exceeding 2,000 kg” and “Helicopters of an unladen weight exceeding 2,000 kg” - an item that only the elite members of the society afford.
By exempting from taxes helicopters “not exceeding” and those “exceeding” 2,000kg, the VAT Act of 2014 essentially exempts all helicopters and their spare parts from taxation.
Ahmednasir's concern comes months after a NHIF receptionist was put on the spot over leading a flashy lifestyle way beyond what his official income could earn him.
Fredrick Sagwe reportedly bought several houses in the high-end Green Park Villa estate in Athi River.
He was also said to fly a helicopter to and from work despite having worked for six years earning a Ksh 50,000 salary.
