Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba announced on Tuesday, March 13, the end of double taxation for Kenyan athletes.
Addressing the press ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, CS Namwamba revealed that the decision was made following discussions with the Kenya Revenue Authority.
According to the CS, during the meeting, they were able to come up with a framework that would be used to shield Kenyan sportsmen and women competing in international events from double taxation.
Namwamba stated that the move to revoke the double taxation system was due to the concerns raised by the athletes, an affair that triggered the government to react.
“The issue of double taxation, our athletes have always raised a concern that when they win their earnings in foreign lands, they pay taxes at source," Namwamba stated.
"I am delighted to announce that we have been working on a framework to shield our athletes from double taxation and we have struck a deal with the KRA and treasury."
The CS further clarified that the athletes would henceforth be subjected to taxation only once, a deduction which will be made at the source of the funds.
“The deal from now moving forward will protect our athletes from double taxation so that they are taxed only once," the sports CS remarked.
Nonetheless, a Kenyan veteran athlete who spoke to Kenyans.co.ke dismissed claims of double taxation by the Kenyan government.
According to the athlete, the prize money was only taxed once, noting the deductions were only done by the foreign country.
The athlete further clarified that he was not aware of any incidents of double taxation on his fellow athletes.
Double taxation was halted in 2013 after the election of Wesley Korir as the Cherangany Member of Parliament. During his tenure as the legislator, he lobbied Parliament to pass a motion requiring KRA to give concessions to athletes.
