We will freeze your accounts over Sh14 million debt – KRA to Sakaja

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has threatened to freeze the accounts for Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja’s office over a debt of nearly Sh14 million owed to the taxman.

The office of Nairobi Senator had from 2013 and 2017 accumulated a debt of Sh13.9 million, over failure to remit employees’ PAYE and other penalties.

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Mike Sonko

“Note, due to the unavailability of PAYE returns and payroll records, the amount due have been estimated and subjected to late payment penalties and interests. You are therefore required to remit the outstanding amount of Sh13,952,551 to the commissioners of domestic taxes immediately to avoid further accrual of penalties and interests," KRA’s demand letter read in part.

During the time, the current Nairobi Governor, Mike Sonko, was the Senator.

Deductions for NHIF and NSSF payments were also not remitted to the relevant authorities, with the total debt amounting to Sh14,096,753.

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Clerk of the Senate

The notice, however, has been served against Senator Sakaja who has sought intervention from the Clerk of the Senate.

"I therefore request your office to take up the matter and expedite it to avoid halting of operations in our office since KRA has already initiated a debt recovery process and have indicated that they will be freezing all the funds in our bank account meant for salaries and office operations," Sakaja said, adding that the payments have been made on time during his time in office.