Times Tower in Nairobi, the headquarters of Kenya Revenue Authority
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The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has provided further clarification regarding the taxation of goods brought into the country by passengers returning home.
KRA has issued a revision to its previously declared statement that all goods worth Sh75,000($500) and above will be under taxation. In an update posted on the taxman's X platform, KRA acting deputy commissioner for policy and international affairs David Ontweka says that not all items will be taxed upon return. This modification addresses concerns raised by Kenyans who previously experienced unfavourable treatment from KRA’s customs officers concerning their personal and purchased belongings.
Before the KRA statement yesterday, their social media announcements informed the public that all goods brought into the country would be taxable. This announcement garnered criticism as Kenyans lamented that their items had undergone previous taxation. As a result, this extra taxation could potentially pose costly challenges at airport customs points. Consequently, the issue has propelled a call to action from a National Assembly Finance Committee representative who has labelled the KRA searches at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport a national shame.
In his plea to the committee, he calls for the distinguishing of commercial goods from personal items. The matter has drawn concern from the Defence and Foreign Affairs Committee which has raised its eyebrows at cases of the KRA exploiting the policy to inconvenience tourists, which negatively impacts the country's reputation. The committee chair Nelson Koech remarks that it's imprudent to mistreat visitors, especially during a time of economic struggle when the country is actively working to attract tourists.
While there are laws in place limiting the number of goods that can be brought into Kenya, Mr Koech emphasizes that this should not be used as an excuse to threaten or invade the privacy of passengers. Just recently, the Tourism Cabinet Secretary Dr Alfred Mutua attributed the decline in tourist visits to the mistreatment of tourists by KRA officials.
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Downsize the govt and taming corruption from TOP are the only ways of cutting the cost of living.STOP CRYING.CONCENTRATE ON REPAYING TRILLIONS TAKEN BY UHURU & Co.TO FINANCE 48 IDLE/USELESS GOVERNMENTS.6m hungry billionaire Kenyans voted YES to a katiba they cannot afford to finance.Ati ata kwetu iko governor,senator,WR,NOMINATED PROSTITUTES etc NONSENSE.KRA/Bunge should have clarified that those port of entry laws were passed 10+ years ago.
Where is the clarification?
We can all get together and teach the fools in kra and govt a lesson. Let's all open bank accounts in Tanzania where the govt does not have the ujinga of Kenya. We send our dollars to Tanzania and have them send the funds to Kenya in Tanzania shillings. This will teach then a lesson. And force them to stop harassing us.
I hate to say this and I hope no one will call me a tribalist but I really miss a Kikuyu-led government. Kenyatta's Kenya was civil and everything went haywire a year after Moi took over. Kibaki came and brought sanity and development and Uhuru continued where Kibaki left off. Now look at what is happening. Someone might find my comment to be rather strange because I am a Luo but facts are facts.
Our JKIA is not as corrupt as Murtala Mohammed airport in Lagos Nigeria but it is slowly getting there.
I've been to Kenya twice this year. Love it but not coming back again with this insanity. I have a drone, GoPro, camera, iPhone and personal electronics worth over $5,000 USD. Could I be taxed up to 100% by an aggressive KRA agent trying to make his shift quota of 1,000,000 KES? The limit should be $10,000 for tourists The hotel I stayed at in Nyali has already laid off 12 people because of no tourist. Kenya is screwed with this policy. Whoever thought this up should be fed to the lions. I've already booked a trip to Zanzibar for a month. $15,000 USD that Kenya won't benefit from. Asente.
Second comment.
I was thoroughly disappointed to see the street corruption and extortion by officers and officials on local drivers (private cars, Uber and TukTuk). My vehicle was stopped about half the time. The driver was forced out and made to pay a bribe on a fake infraction (expired license - which was valid). Three Kenyans and I drive the national park where the falls are. The armed guard wanted a bribe over and above the stated entry fee. My Kenya friends were going to pay but I insisted we turn around and drive back to Diani. The guard spoke harshly in Swahili to my friends. I ordered the driver to turn around. We backed up, all the while the menacing guard glaring at me. I blew him a kiss and waved goodbye. I joked to the driver to hurry before he started shooting at us.
True story - I have photos of the event.
Thus is an excuse to continue the extortion and theft of both personal and commercial property. The officials in the airport hang about like vultures looking and indeed pouncing on prey. You have to pack bags strategically to avoid losing items especially items that come in pairs or even simple stuff like toiletries. Kenya has become like Nigeria....corrupt and ungovernable. Diaspora folks it is cheaper to invite family and pay for thier visas or even holiday in other countries, than go through the evil checkout process at JKIA.