The Standard ­ Thursday
Date: 11.05.2017
Page 48
Article size: 345 cm2
ColumnCM: 76.66
AVE: 184000.0
Agents take KRA to
court over licences
Judge orders taxman to
show cause why cargo
documents not renewed
By Lee Mwiti
[email protected]
The battle between cargo clear­
ing agents and the taxman over
renewal of licences has landed in
court.
Under the Kenya International
Freight and Warehousing Associa­
tion (Kifwa), the agents yesterday
secured orders from High Court
Judge Roselyn Aburili that require
the Kenya Revenue Authority
(KRA) to give official cause, within
seven days, why it has not issued
them with the licences.
"With the escalating food crisis
in the country, we can't go on with­
out importation since I understand
the agents are on a go­slow. This
matter seems simple to me. The
agents have applied and paid the
requisite fee for the licences. KRA
should show cause why they don't
have the licences," ruled the judge.
KRA argued that the agents
should exercise patience since
their vetting process is ongoing,
and the delay had been occasioned
by the need to give priority to bet­
ting firms who require new guide­
lines to comply with tax changes
announced by Treasury in the
Budget.
Apart from getting their licences
renewed, the agents also want KRA
stopped from using a bio­data
form that requires personal infor­
mation in the vetting process.
"They want us to part with very
personal information which is not
of a business nature in this bio­
data form. We will not do that.
Also, they have been extending the
validity of the 2016 licences, which
expired on October 13 last year,
something that is illegal," said
newly­elected Kifwa Chairman
William Ojonyo.
He also argued that the exten­
sions by KRA are not accommo­
dated in the East African Customs
"They want us
to part with
very personal
information which
is not of a business
nature in this bio­
data form, we will
not do that."
Community Act.
KRA has rejected the withdraw­
al of the bio­data form, insisting
that the document is needed to nab
quack agents who are used to
smuggle counterfeits across the
country's borders.
The agents have been on a go­
slow since February and claim that
lack of licences is locking them out
of lucrative tenders.
The matter will be mentioned on
May 22.
Ipsos Kenya ­ Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road ­ Lavington ­ Nairobi ­ Kenya