Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho has given the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) an ultimatum to open up his Container Freight Stations (CFS) that were closed a week ago.
Through his lawyer AhmedNassir Abdullahi, the Governor gave KRA boss John Njiraini a maximum of 24 hours to open his businesses failure to which he would sue for contempt of court.
“To utter shock and dismay, despite having full actual and constructive knowledge of the court order, you have continuously disobeyed the said order by denying our client to resume operations as directed by the court,” said Nassir.
“As a senior officer, you are enjoined to uphold the Constitution and respect for court orders is one such fundamental tenet that must be upheld at all material times by everybody including yourself and all your officers,” the lawyer added.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Joho said he now wants his two CFSs to be allowed to resume operations as directed by the court, contrary to which he would seek legal redress.
On Tuesday, police officers from Mombasa defied a court order and stormed the businesses owned by the governor's family, claiming to have been operating under strict instructions.
The two, Portside and Autoport Fright Terminus, had been allowed by the court to continue with operations allowing importers and clearing agents to move their consignments before they were raided and closed down.
The controversial action by the police degenerated into a political tug of war with the Opposition accusing the government of employing bullying tactics to intimidate leaders in differeny political faction.
However, the KRA issued a press statement in an attempt to explain why the businesses had been ordered to a close. According to the taxman, the move was a routine employed to ensure that government enforces compliance with Customs requirements.
The Authority further revealed that investigations showed that some of the closed companies had been evading tax and facilitating importation of contraband goods.
