KRA, KPA clash over 14-rice-full containers at Mombasa port

juma chrispinus

February 25, 2017 10:49 AM

The statement indicated that already the investigations were underway to establish how the goods were cleared using underhand methods.

Kenya’s taxman Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) intercepted and seized 14 containers which were allegedly illegally cleared for departure from Mombasa port.

In a statement to the press, KRA said that the 14 containers were loaded with 14,560 bags of rice destined for Uganda.

The goods from India were meant for a receipt indexed as Gobtex International Uganda Ltd with the India’s exporter, an Indian firm, being Ganapati Enterprises Limited.

“The consignments were in the process of being cleared from the port irregularly using an entry number which had earlier cleared other containers whose duties were duly paid,” said KRA in a statement Friday.

In a statement seen by P Live Kenya, the taxman said if the containers had been sneaked out of the Mombasa port, it would have resulted in a Sh8 million tax loss.

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On Friday, the facility was marred by confusion regarding the verification of the containers, with the KRA and Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) officials clashing over whether the exercise was supposed to be conducted or not.

While KRA officials invited journalists to cover the exercise, KPA refused to let them into the facility claiming that the taxman had not informed them, raising questions on who is deemed the circus behind the consignment.

In the recent past, KRA has intercepted tens of containers that were being irregularly cleared from the port, with reports alleging that cartels were corrupting KPA and customs officials.

juma chrispinus