President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday, November 5, dared Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to conduct arrests at State House if it was found that there were tax anomalies.
Speaking at Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi where he was presiding over the annual Taxpayers Day, Uhuru urged KRA officials to conduct their constitutionally backed mandate without fear.
"If you come to State House and you learn that we have done the same and have not paid what is due, deal with us. What is the problem? It is your job," he stated.
"That way we set in place a process that shows that nobody, no one, is above the law," he added.
While rewarding the top taxpayers of the financial year 2018/2019, President Kenyatta urged KRA to stretch its mandate to public offices and not just private businesses.
"If you go to the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) and realize that it has deducted funds from the MPs and has not remitted, Angweny is there. You are free to arrest him," he stated, referring to Kitutu Chache North MP Jimmy Angwenyi.
President Kenyatta, however, raised a concern about KRA's pursuit of suspected tax defaulters, stating that some of its previous crackdowns have been overzealous and may have hurt the country's economy.
He urged the taxman to find a method that would work in favour of both the traders and the commission.
"We must be friendly. We cannot criminalize everything. Fear and threats should not form the basis of the relationship between the taxman and the client. Someone might have made a legitimate mistake. Sit down together and find a solution," President Kenyatta suggested.
He stated that if such measures are taken, it would be hard for traders to make such mistakes again.
Video Courtesy of Citizen TV
