The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has replaced its Commissioner for Customs and Border Control Kevin Safari with an acting one Pamela Ahago.
Until his replacement, Kevin who has held the post since February 2019, was recently mentioned in a corruption case. Mr Safari was accused alongside Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) boss Daniel Manduku who has sicne resigned effetive June 2020, of conniving to gazette Nairobi Inland Cargo Terminal/Depot (ICD) as a KPA peripheral facility between March 21 and June 14 last year. This was allegedly done despite the fact the facility did not meet the requirements for gazzetment.
Safari and Manduku were also accused that between December 31, 2019 and January 27, 2020 they conspired to defeat justice by influencing payment of Sh3.1 million for KPA peripheral facility licence for a company. This was allegedly done to correct an illegality of none payment of the same that was already under investigations.
Safari still face, among others, charges of neglecting his duties by failing to adhere to regulations governing appointment of a facility as a KPA peripheral storage agreed upon by KRA and KPA. He is said to have gazetted a company, as a KPA peripheral facility, that did not meet requirements in respect to separate entrance and exit areas. The same applied to ICD.
The case collapsed after differences between Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) emerged. ODPP had refused to handle the case because of shoddy investigations, but the damage to the reputation of KRA was already done.
While being grilled by DCI in those months past over the ICD matter, Mr Safari had defended himself saying, “It will be good to note, however, that the role of issuing contracts for the peripheral storage facilities is a KPA role. KRA only inspected the facilities before they were commissioned, as required by law.”
Other people see Mr Safari’s predicament as a tribal wager where Kenyan big men seek to entrench economic inequality by appointing members of the same tribe, to positions of influence in the key parastatals in the country.
Mr Safari went on to petition DPP to probe DCI critising the DCI over want he called being ‘charged for otherwise doing his job as the law requires’.
“That it is now strange and shocking to learn that I am under the imminent threat of facing allegation of procedural gazettement of the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Peripheral Storage Facilities (PSF),” his letter written in early March read.
Mr Safari insisted that his decisions and actions were all legal and motivated by national concern and public interest which ensured ease of business amongst SST’s, increased revenue collection by the KRA and proper utilization of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).
In the letter, Safari further avers that KRA has not experienced any loss of revenue in view of the newly-opened Peripheral Storage Facilities.
He even expressed concerns over his employment and this has come to pass, he had said,
“The thought that I presently face imminent threat to my employment and reputation yet I have demonstrated unwavering commitment to the protection and promotion of public interest is at least unfortunate.”
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