Embakasi East MP, Babu Owino, has joined a growing list of legislators who have ganged up to condemn the Jubilee government over its recent wars on alleged tax cheats in the country.
Expressing his frustrations on Facebook over the recent arrest of Keroche Breweries directors, Tabitha Karanja and her husband Joseph Karanja, the vocal MP faulted the Public Revenue Collection team, together with Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji, for accusing private enterprises and carrying out arrests in Kenya.
While referring to the recent ban on some betting firms in the country, Owino stated that the government seemed more concerned with the destruction of private businesses more than their continued prosperity.
“When you slap a business with a 41 billion tax assessment and thereafter, another with a 14 billion shilling assessment, the resultant effect can only be their closure,” read part of his statement
He added, “This is the same thing that has been done to the betting companies. And the strange thing about it all is that all these companies had previously been given a clean bill of health and some even awards by the Kenya Revenue Authority.”
The first time legislator appealed to President Uhuru Kenyatta to rein in on government agents and encourage them to pursue dialogue with the business owners regarding escalating tax issues.
“The government must first talk to business before pursuing such extreme measures as arrest and arraignment. Otherwise, business owners will seek out more friendly and stable environments in which to operate such as Uganda or Tanzania,” observed Owino.
Babu’s statements came at a time when a section of leaders mostly aligned to DP William Ruto has come out guns blazing, claiming the Jubilee administration had launched a witch-hunt disguised as fight against tax crimes.
Led by Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, the leaders blamed Uhuru’s administration for the current tax evasion cases, claiming businessman Humphrey Kariuki’s Africa Spirits and Keroche were being unfairly targeted by powerful figures, who have big shares in East Africa Breweries Limited (EABL).
Kikuyu MP, Kimani Ichungw’a, told a local media house that the crackdown on local businesses was not the way to deal with matters of revenue collection or tax evasion in Kenya.
“We have formed a bad habit of using state agencies to coerce, intimidate and arm-twist Kenyans. Be it in the fight against corruption, the fight against tax evasion, Huduma Namba registration or the upcoming census, we want to intimidate and coerce Kenyans,” the vocal MP protested.
Their statements were echoed by Nakuru County Governor (the county where Keroche Industries is located), Lee Kinyanjui, who observed that the quest to enhance tax collection must be balanced with the need to protect local businesses and jobs.
Whereas tax evasion is serious crime&considering our economic situation&high rate of unemployment I urge KRA to negotiate repayment plan 4 evaded taxes with Keroche&HumphreyKariuki instead of criminal enforcement.This fight must not leave the country in worse situation than it is
— KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN, E.G.H (@kipmurkomen) August 21, 2019
https://twitter.com/MutahiNgunyi/status/1163483463942582274
Good morning people!!
Remember that there is a woman called Tabitha Karanja who spent her night in the police cells just because she dared challenge the big multinationals.
She is being punished for success. She doesn’t owe the govt Ksh 14 billion. Do you know 14b?
— Robert Alai (@RobertAlai) August 23, 2019