Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has unveiled the online auction.

The auction, which was previously a physical process, is part of KRA’s technological strategies aimed at streamlining tax administration procedures to enhance service delivery and improve revenue collection. The unveiling follows a successful piloting of the online auction, through which KRA collected Kshs 37.5 million.

The process will boost government efforts to decongest ports and ensure cargo is cleared in a timely and efficient manner.

Speaking during the Taxpayers’ Month Launch at Customs House, Mombasa, KRA Commissioner General Mr Humphrey Wattanga said the online auction will give taxpayers the opportunity to appreciate transparency of the bidding process.

He noted that the negotiation process will be faster and accessible to registered taxpayers countrywide and globally. The Commissioner General said during this year’s Taxpayers’ Month, KRA has lined up a myriad of activities aimed at giving back to the society and honouring compliant taxpayers.

“In the spirit of giving back to taxpayers, we are calling on those who have accrued interests up to December 2022 to take advantage of our Tax Amnesty programme and pay up the principal taxes due, so that we can write off the penalties and interests accrued.” Said Mr Wattanga.

He said that KRA is constantly determined to enhance voluntary compliance among taxpayers and urged taxpayers to embrace the programme before it closes in 30th June, 2024.

“All taxpayers are welcome to apply for waiver; for those who did not file their returns and accrued penalties for non-filing, they automatically qualify, and should go ahead and file their returns.”

KRA is anticipated to collect approximately Kshs. 50 billion from the tax amnesty programme.

Speaking during the unveiling of the online auction, Cabinet Secretary, National Treasury And Economic Planning, Prof Njuguna Ndung’u, CBS said besides being a means of giving back to the society, the Tax Amnesty programme is one of government’s fiscal policy measures aimed at cushioning Kenyans and strengthening economic resilience during the adverse domestic and external headwinds being experienced globally.

The CS said that the Government is cognizant of the current changing environment and will continue to support private businesses' capacity to adapt through reforms. This will create business value for entrepreneurs to promote economic growth.

“Tax amnesties are projected to bring in additional revenue as taxpayers voluntarily report and pay taxes that may never be collected by the Government. The amnesty programme is expected to improve tax compliance as tax administrations learn from taxpayers’ previous behaviours, thereby allowing them to plan better.” Said the CS.

Mr Wattanga said that KRA will continue embracing technology in its quest to enhance tax compliance.

He said the taxman has embraced a collaborative business model which incorporates taxpayers’ feedback. Among the technologies that showcase this is the Electronic Tax Invoice Management System (eTIMS), rolled out in February 2023.

A total of 95,732 VAT registered taxpayers had onboarded eTIMs by end of FY 2022/23. eTIMS has helped minimise VAT fraud and increased tax revenue. Mr Wattanga said that KRA has also integrated its systems with betting and gaming companies, with the aim of streamlining tax remittances from the sector and scaling up revenue collection.

The programme has enabled KRA to make significant improvements in the sector’s tax administrative processes, with the daily visibility of the firms providing trends that inform compliance measures.

The Taxpayers’ Month is organised customarily to celebrate compliant taxpayers, since tax compliance is a key foundation on which our country’s economic stability is anchored. The event is meant to honour the self-sacrifice of patriotic taxpayers and their contribution towards the country's economic development.

This year’s Taxpayers’ Month theme is “Tunawiri” which plainly translates to “let us prosper”. The theme presents a uniting call to all Kenyans to fulfil their role in the prosperity of Kenya through payment of taxes

The Kilifi County government has launched a central emergency operation center in readiness for the coming El nino rains and other disasters.

Governor Gideon Mung’aro while launching the center at Matsangoni area in Kilifi North Sub County has revealed that his administration was seeking a Sh. 930 million budget for the Kilifi County Floods Contingency Plan.

“As you know, the country is aware of the fact that very soon we shall be experiencing the El nino rains and I appeal to stakeholders and partners to help us raise the Sh. 930 budget so that we can have resources and capacity to respond to El nino emergencies,” he said.

The Matsangoni Emergency Operation Center (EOC) will be used to coordinate rescue, evacuation and emergencies services across the county and residents in distress have been provided with a toll free number to call in case of an emergency within their locality.

It is a one command center where all emergencies will be coordinated fully equipped with state of the art equipment including a call center.

The Chief Officer for disaster management Irene Opicha said that the management of disasters in the county will go a long way in protecting life and property and hence cushion residents from losses occasioned by calamities.

“We are changing the face of disaster management in the county and we have roped in various partners including NGOs and the Kenya Red Cross. You will be able to make a call to the center and emergency response team near you will swiftly respond,” she said.

The Assistant County Commissioner (ACC)  Matsangoni division Patricia Dama urged residents with dilapidated latrines and toilets to reconstruct or reinforce them before the coming of the rains. She said that floods are expected and that the water will definitely flow through homesteads hence affecting latrines.

“Those with weak latrines should reconstruct them because the rains that are coming will be intense and the toilets might get washed away and bring about water borne and communicable diseases,” she said.

Former Wundanyi Mp Thomas Mwadeghu has landed a job in Kwale county.

Mwadeghu who contested for the Taita Taveta county senator seat in the last general elections will now serve at the Kwale County Audit Committee as a member.

The Audit Committee members are Abdhallah Mambo Dalu (Chairperson), Mwanaidi Rama Mwangome, Thomas Mwadegu & Mwanamisi Libondo.

The members of the team were officially handed over their contract letters on Monday morning by Kwale Governor Fatma Achani.

"This is a great step towards ensuring that our service delivery to the people of Kwale county is robust, effective and driven by responsible, transparent and accountable use of public resources." said Governor Achani.

Adding " We also affirm our commitment to ensuring that all county government officers adapt a servant leadership mode of service delivery to fully realise our development agenda."

Mwadeghu served as the Wundanyi Mp from 2007 to 2013.

The Mombasa county government is set to launch a job application app that will help connect the youths with suitable employers in their preferred fields.

Speaking during the second day of the Pwani innovation week, Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Nassir revealed that the application named 'FURSA'  developed by the county government in conjuction with Swahili pot Hub will help in solving the unemeployement crisis facing the county.

Nassir noted that the application is designed to connect youths in Mombasa with a wide range of job opportunities, skills Training, Internship and Mentorship programs for Youths.

Tears of joy flowed when over 1000 residents of Mikindani in Jomvu received title deeds on Monday.

The residents who had been waiting for the important documents could not hide their joy as they receive the documents from Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Nassir.

While issuing the titles deeds, governor Nassir urged the owners to utilize their title deeds for their own benefits of developing their land.

Nassir promised to ensure more title deeds are issued to the area residents.

''The issue of squatters has been a long-standing political mountain that has proven historically challenging to successive regimes since independence. I have outlined an innovative proposal in my manifesto that we are working to implement. The idea will allow squatters to assume ownership of titles progressively in a tenancy purchase structure guaranteed by the County Government of Mombasa.'' said Nassir.

Adding '' I promise to come back here and issue more title deeds to those who have not yet received.''

The county is planning to issue a total of 3500 title deeds in the area.

Nassir further noted that the county government will issue out more title deeds across the county noting ''We will continue to roll out this scheme throughout the county through the issuance of title deeds for squatters.''

On his part area Mp Badi Twalib called on the governor to ensure that Schools in the areas also get title deeds.

''We are here issuing out title deeds to the residents but I want to tell you governor that most schools in my area do not have title deeds, lets work together in ensuring that the schools also get their title deeds.'' said Badi.

Adding '' The people of Jomvu came out in large numbers to vote for you because they have confidence in you and today you have truly proven to us that you have our interests at heart and I ask please let us work together for our people.''

Nominated Mombasa Senator Miraj Abdillahi has accused local leaders affiliated to the Azimio side of misleading the public on port privitasitaion.

Speaking in Waa, Kwale county, Miraj called on the local leaders to be careful with their utterances and avoid misleading the public.

"My colleagues are going round complaining that they were involved or consulted. Everything in government has a process, this government went round selling its agenda to the people of Kenya and if part of that agenda and plan is to partner with investors why should oppose it. " argued Miraj.

Adding "KPA management and the government have done a feasibility study and established which areas need to be improved. When that time for public participation comes you will all be invited including me and if there are issues that we will find are not good for us then that is the time we will complain. Do not evoke emotions of our people through your utterances during public functions."

Miraj called on the elected leaders to raise their issues in parliament.

Miraj charged "You are elected leaders , lets face in parliament. You keep on complaining that there are thieves in this government why don't you go to parliament and name them." 

Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Nassir has been on an aggressive advocacy campaign opposing the Port privatization.

Nassir said that Mombasa residents will not benefit after privatisation.

"We are not opposed to development, but we speak on behalf of millions of residents who may not be able to speak for themselves. We ask what is in it for the people of Mombasa in the privatization of their Port?" He said.

Miraj further called on Coast residents to stop complaining that they have been marginalised by the current government.

"You cannot complain that this government has marginalised us as the people of Coast. I'm a nominated senator from Mombasa, here in Kwale you have a nominated senator and a CS. We have a speaker and a CS from Kilifi county, lets give credit where credit is due."

Youth in the coastal region have been told to embrace emerging innovation and technologies to grow and build resilient businesses.

Speaking during the first day of the Pwani innovation week 2023, Swahili pot hub founder Mahmoud Noor said young people must stay innovative to create employment for themselves.

The innovation week which will run for the whole week will also involve workshops to train youth on intellectual property and innovation protection, how to break barriers in gender and equality innovation and how to master strategies for success in modern business strategies.

Noor said youth have embraced innovations ready to tap into the economic potential that comes along with it.

The innovation week that has attracted hundreds of innovations and exhibitors

“We will link them with financial institutions so that their innovations can get financial funding and ready markets, we will also let them learn from mentors who will guide them through,” said Noor.

This is the fourth time the event is being held in Mombasa where youth showcase their innovations for sustainable development.

Noor said some of the innovations are targeting information communication sectors, ICT sectors, security among others.

"When they are good innovators we recommend them to the government to earn a living, we ask the youth to be patient and hardworking so that they can earn a living,” emphasized Noor.

At least 70 exhibitors are taking part in the Pwani innovation week and Swahili pot hub boss says 1,300 people have registered to take part.

On her part Farhiya Jamal, one of the participants said the event is significant since it will create an entrepreneurship ecosystem and empower hundreds of youth.

“What we want to achieve from the Pwani innovation week is to have jobs created, youth being empowered, catalyzing job opportunities so that we can create young entrepreneurs,” she said.

The dockworkers union has asked the government to put on hold the concession plans of Mombasa and Lamu port services to pave the way for public participation.

Led by the dock workers union secretary general Simon Sang asked the government to reverse the plan, and restart it afresh, so that players can understand what it means for the sector. Sang blames the government for rushing things since as it stands, they have not been involved.

The proposed stakeholders are Mombasa county government, the dockworkers union, local communities, and politicians among others. He says they learnt about the matter when it was advertised, without stakeholder’s node.

The dockworkers union (DWU), which represents over 7,000 Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) workers, has therefore asked that the plan be stopped until the process is undertaken through public participation with involvement of all players.

“concession means there will be a decrease in direct employment at the Kenya ports Authority, but  there will be an increase of jobs outside the port, direct employment in the port we are like 7,000 people, if we concession, there is a possibility that the jobs will gradually decline to almost 5,000 jobs,”said Sang.

He added “The concession simply means there will be a plus outside to the bigger economy and a minus to the employment of Kenya ports authority, that is what happens,”.

Although they are not opposed to the concession plan, (DWU) top brass says concessioning some services in the two ports will directly affect their members, through decline of job opportunities.

“It is premature to ask the dockworkers union if it is in support of concessioning or not. The question should be the advantages of concessioning or remaining what we are today,” sang posed during a media briefing at the Union offices in Mombasa on Sunday.

The Port Workers Union says it understands that the concession process is under the Big Four Agenda and particularly the aspect of industrialization captured in the 2017-27 national strategic plan.

Sang says similar ports in the world like the port of Singapore have been successful, but according to Sang,in Kenya, the matter was being rushed without having all players directly involved in the plan.

“This is not a new project. It came into light in 2021-22 when it was hinted by the then cabinet secretary for treasury when he was approached by Dubai World with an offer to establish special economic zones in Lamu Mombasa, Kisumu and Naivasha,”said Sang.

Their concerns came after Azimio leader Raila Odinga said the plan for the concession of port services was shrouded in secrecy and without public participation as required in law. He said the Mombasa County government must be involved in the plan.

Raila was addressing the press in Mombasa after a closed-door meeting with ODM governors. He said the country was perturbed by the alleged privatization of Mombasa and Lamu ports.