CS Mutua Moves To End KRA Customs-Travellers Standoff At JKIA

Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua on Thursday, November 2 revealed that he has scheduled a meeting with Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Commissioner General Humphrey Wattanga intending to address the uproar that ensued over the taxman's enhanced efforts to collect revenue at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi.

In a statement on his social media handles, Mutua revealed that he had a telephone conversation with Wattanga in a bid to address the matter and prevent a scenario of tourists keeping off Kenya as their destination of choice ahead of the festive season.

"I have earlier today had a telephone conversation and scheduled a meeting with Mr Humphrey Wattanga, the Commissioner General of Kenya Revenue Authority, to discuss how we can work together to grow the tourism and travel industry," he stated.

Mutua however did not reveal when the scheduled meeting with the KRA Commissioner-General would take place.

Notably, the CS in October at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) while addressing stakeholders on the Tourism sector marketing strategy, called out KRA Customs officers based at the airport for harassing tourists who fly into the country via JKIA on a visit from other countries.

Mutua explained that tourists are treated harshly by KRA officers on arrival in the country, which he said discourages them from coming back to Kenya, revealing that the officers at times resort to measures that infringe on their privacy while conducting checks on their luggage.

"When our tourists come and they have carried two cameras and shoes, and they want to do some shopping, they are asked to open their luggage to look at the kind of contents. They hold their inner wears we harass our visitors when they come to this country at the airport, then we wonder why they don't come back," lamented Mutua.

"You go to Rwanda they don't harass you; same with South Africa, Dubai etc. Do these countries not collect taxes? Why are we harassing our visitors here? A woman is paraded with her innerwear by the KRA officials, they will never come back to Kenya."

KRA earlier dismissed the confusion that stemmed from its multiple deleted statements that the agency was planning to tax personal luggage valued at Ksh75,425 (USD500) or more.

In a detailed explanation, the taxman, while reiterating its commitment to continuous improvement, revealed that it is in the process of upgrading the use of technology to enhance non-intrusive inspection of baggage at all points of entry.

Part of this process is to ensure that prohibited and restricted goods are screened out for security purposes. For passenger clearance at terminals, KRA clarified that all used personal items/effects are exempt from customs duty.