Africa-Press – Kenya. Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has cautioned bar owners over the clearance of two-year tax arrears. Waiguru said that her administration will not tolerate defiance of tax-related laws.
The governor said the county will and is not ready to negotiate with tax evaders and the affected operators will have to clear the Sh100 million arrears without fail.
She said in line with the ongoing national campaigns on the importance of tax compliance, her administration will stay put and will not relent in doing the needful as far as tax collection is concerned.
Waiguru decried that Kirinyaga collects less than 30 per cent of the county revenues targets making it one of the counties that have been flagged for low revenue collection.
She attributed the problem to tax defiance and cooperation from some of the operators. Waiguru said the ongoing crackdown across the county to shut down unlicensed bars has proved to be productive and is not stopping any time until all operators fully comply.
She said in the course of the past two days, some bar operators have rushed to pay their operational and licence fees amounting to Sh19 million, proof that the operators have the financial capacity to clear the pending fee.
“We will not spare anyone who owes the county. Let the bar operators be advised to clear the arrears and not test my patience. We will not negotiate with you and don’t bother looking for any county officials for any sort of negotiations,” she said.
She reiterated that all traders are subject to the county laws and should purpose to follow them to letter. Waiguru warned that the county is not ready to indiscriminately change the laws for the benefit of waiving their taxes.
She urged non-compliant operators who feel stifled by any of the county laws in place, to look for other counties with ‘friendlier policies’ to operate from.
“Kirinyaga is governed by laws passed and approved by law-making organs. Those who are not ready to follow them should be advised to look for other counties where they can put up their businesses,” she said.
Waiguru said if all operators complied, the county would not strain on having ready funds to complete stalled projects and address the many county-related needs. She cautioned the bar operators to be wary of their association’s leaders and keep off brokers.
“Some of the officials mislead you not to pay taxes yet they don’t even own a single bar. While electing your leaders, elect those who deserve and best understand your pain but those not brokers,” Waiguru said.
Waiguru spoke in Mwea during the commissioning of a 200-kilometre road network scheduled to be constructed across the constituency. She said the works should be completed in a month saying her administration has provided the necessary machinery to undertake the project.
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