The Kenya Revenue Authority has summoned seven governors for allegedly failing to remit 13 billion in taxes.
The county bosses are on the spot over unpaid taxes totaling to KSh 13 billion shillings, an amount that includes PAYE deductions and tax from payments made to suppliers.
Among those summoned by the authority include Nairobi’s Mike Sonko who is on the spot for failing to remit KSh 4.5 billion.
Kiambu’s Ferdinand Waititu owes the taxman KSh 3,216,613,189.
According to a report published by Standard, Kilifi’s Amason Kingi owes KSh2,059,410,078 while Okoth Obado’s Migori has KSh 1,300,000,000 as unsettled tax. Other six counties on KRA’s radar are Migori, Homa Bay, Turkana, Kilifi, Murang’a.
KRA claims that Mwangi wa Iria’s Murang’a owes KSh 1,021,174,037, Cyprian Awiti’s Homa Bay KSh 765,718,819 and Josphat Nanok’s Turkana KSh 455,634,523.
On Wednesday, Sonko defended himself saying the KSh 4.5 billion arose from the previous administration and had been carried forward as part of pending bills.
Council of Governors chairman Wycliffe Oparanya attributed the non-remittances to transition periods during budget process.
“Some of these arrears result from the confusion during the budget process,” said the Kakamega county boss.
KRA’s Commissioner for Domestic Taxes Elizabeth Meyo has warned governors who fail to honour the summons will be prosecuted.
