Governor Joho’s financial woes deepen after latest government move

dennis kibet

March 26, 2017 1:57 PM

KRA directed Stanbic Bank to freeze Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho's six bank accounts.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho’s financial woes deepened after the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) ordered for a freeze on his bank accounts.

In a letter from the authority’s commissioner in charge of investigations and enforcement Justus Kiuvu, KRA directed Stanbic Bank to freeze Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho's six bank accounts.

"In the exercise of the powers conferred upon me by Section 43(2) of the Tax Procedures Act, 2015, I hereby require you to preserve such money in the below mentioned accounts and to ensure that such money is not transferred, withdrawn, disposed of or otherwise dealt with without the written authority of the commissioner," the letter reads in part.

KRA ordered the bank accounts frozen for a period of 10 working days from March 20, or until the application by the Commissioner is heard and determined by the High Court.

According to the letter, two of Joho’s accounts have currency in US Dollars while four have in Kenya Shillings.

The governor has accounts at Barclays, Stanbic and Diamond Trust banks.

President Kenyatta's hand in the matter

Joho has claimed President Uhuru Kenyatta directed KRA to freeze the accounts, adding that it is part of a plot to cripple him financially and force him on his knees.

The county boss said the freezing of his accounts came days after Uhuru threatened to “deal” and “flog” him.

“I will not be buried with cash. They have closed my accounts and I am not complaining. Money comes from God,” Joho said.

In January last year, the government shut down two container freight stations belonging to Joho’s family.

The closure followed a letter from the Kenya Ports Authority to the stations’ management, notifying them they would not be allowed to receive cargo from the harbour.

dennis kibet