The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has ordered CFC Stanbic Bank to freeze five bank accounts belonging to Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho.
KRA Commissioner in charge of investigations Mr Justus Kiuvu in a letter dated 20th March 2017, directed CFC Bank to freeze the accounts of the governor for 10 days or until such a time that the High Court will make a decision.
“In the exercise of the powers conferred upon me by Section 43[2] of the Tax Procedures Act, 2015, I hereby require to preserve such money in the accounts mentioned and to ensure that such money is not transferred, withdrawn, disposed off or otherwise dealt with without the written authority of the Commissioner. The letter read in part.
The directive to freeze Joho’s accounts comes two days after the governor received a call from the bank informing him of the intended investigations.
On Friday, while addressing a rally in Lamu, Joho highlighted that the authorities should not only investigate the accounts but also take all the money.
“Just recently the President ordered officers to block me from attending the Mtongwe ferry event and assured Kenyans that he will teach me a lesson.
“Today, one of my banks has called me asking for permissions to have my accounts investigated. I have told them there’s no need for investigations of my accounts. Instead, they can go ahead and take all the money from my accounts at Stanbic, DTB and Barclays banks," Joho stated.
Kenyans have attributed the directive to freeze the accounts to recent comments by President Uhuru Kenyatta indicating that he would teach Joho a lesson.
Below is KRA’s letter to CFC Stanbic bank.
