President William Ruto has raised concerns over massive corruption at the Kenya Revenue Authority.
Speaking shortly after filing his returns at Times Tower on Friday, the President said while Kenya’s economy has witnessed growth in recent years, the tax collected has nearly remained the same within the same period.
Ruto fired a warning to the staff who were colluding with businesses and organisations in dodging taxes saying their days are numbered.
He said the collection of more revenue has also been hindered by the use of outdated technology.
“Theย authority continues to maximise collection from existingย taxpayers through processes and technologies that belongย to a bygone era, including disruptive stoppages of revenue-generatingย operations, summary actions, time-consuming,ย laborious and inefficient assessment methods and aย flagrant penchant for intimidation through arbitraryย prosecution,” he said.
” Additionally, collusion, wanton bribe-taking and generalย corruption continue to pervade the operations of KRA,ย facilitating tax evasion, massive leakages of potentialย revenue and inability to meet revenue targets.”
The President went on to say that there is a deliberate refusal to upgrade technology that will enhance the efficient collection of revenue.
This, he said, is meant to enable continuous plundering of the country’s taxes.
Ruto has asked KRA to urgentlyย undertake serious and effective culture changeย throughout the organisation and expeditiously adopt andย implement the best technologies to facilitate efficientย revenue mobilisation.
“This means KRA must stop the tiresome drama ofย pretending to be fighting with stakeholders over newย technology and avoid irritating Kenyans with proposals toย spend billions of shillings on irrelevant projects. Kenyansย expect no less, deserve no less and are entitled to no less,” he said.
He went on to say he will be personally involved in ensuring thatย Kenyans get their taxesโ worth of public services in full andย that none, regardless of status, steals or wastes publicย resources.
“Iย just want to make the following commitment firmly andย clearly: My office shall be responsible for ensuringย effectiveness, efficiency, transparency and accountabilityย in the use of public funds.”
Source-https://www.nairobileo.co.ke/
President William Ruto Fires Corruption Warning Shot at KRA Staff