Senator Writes to KRA Seeking a Tax Audit on Kenyatta Family Business Deals

Nyandarua Senator John Methu has written to Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) seeking a tax audit on former president Uhuru Kenyatta’s family business deals.

The first-time senator wrote the letter on behalf of the Peoples’ Representatives from Nyandarua, Nyeri, Kirinyanga and Kiambu counties.

He claims the Kenyatta family businesses have subverted the constitutional social goals by denying the public revenue by nonpayment of taxes to KRA.

“In promoting social justice, the Constitution under Article 201 outlines different principles to be applied in public finance. One such principle touches on tax and is to be found in Article 201 (b)(i) which states that the tax burden in Kenya shall be shared fairly,” read the letter in part.

“...no individual or company should subvert the societal goals and deny the public, the revenue required to meet different obligations to their realize the socio-economic rights guaranteed by the Constitution.”

Methu cited the 2019 merger of the Kenyatta family-owned Commercial Bank Africa Limited (CBA) and NIC Group (NIC) to form NCBA as well as Brookside Dairy Limited, ENKE Investments Ltd and the buying of the 5G- specific spectrum license.

“This country is governed by the rule of law and not jungle law where some animals are more equal than the others in respect of payment of taxes as stated above,” Methu adds in the letter.

In a separate letter to the Communications Authority, Methu requested the agency to make public documents relating to tendering process and subsequent payment of the 5G license to Safaricom Plc in April 2021.

“It is quite baffling that the process leading to the issuance and the subsequent payment of the spectrum to Safaricom Plc remains unknown to the members of the public up to date,” the letter reads.

It adds: “In the spirit of fighting corruption in the country, the Authority’s response will indeed exonerate it from the above allegations and demonstrate it followed the due process in issuing of the 5G spectrum internet to Safaricom Plc.”