Mombasa governor Hassan Joho and his two brothers now claim that Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has blocked their Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) and are unable to file his tax returns as required by the law.
In a statement sent by his Communication Director Richard Chacha, Joho claimed that the move was a continuation of Jubilee administration’s attempts to curtail and frustrate him because of being “bold and vocal on issues affecting his people.”
His brother Abubakar Joho and Hussein Joho are also alleged to have their PIN blocked by the revenue agency.
“We know this is a continuation of Jubilee government’s attempts to muzzle the Governor over his political stand and for being bold and vocal on issues affecting his people. No amount of intimidation and arm twisting will change his course in politics,” read part of the statement.
Joho said that he was unable to file his tax return and had not been notified if it had been blocked and the reason behind it.
However, KRA said that it was unable to comment on the issue because it touches on confidentiality of an individual tax payer.
“As KRA, we cannot discuss tax payers matter of an individual to a third party because laws of confidentiality do not allow us to do this,” said Fatma Yusuf, KRA Manager incharge of Marketing and Communication, Southern Region.
Joho claimed that the move had allegedly been orchestrated by Jubilee administration in their “desperate moves to suppress those with dissenting opinions.”
“The government has fought me and my family from all angles. If this is the price I have to pay for defending my people and speaking the truth, so be it,” Joho claimed.
