Economy

NIS and taxman join agencies fighting graft

WAQO

Mr Halakhe Waqo, EACC chief executive. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and the National Intelligence Service (NIS) have joined the team tasked with the fight against corruption, stepping up the graft fight.

Inclusion of the taxman and the government spy arm into the team, which consists of seven agencies, is expected to increase sharing of information on suspects to build stronger cases.

Reports alleging purchase of goods and services by civil servants at inflated prices and theft of taxpayers’ cash have put pressure on President Uhuru Kenyatta to deliver on fight against corruption.

The KRA and NIS will now join the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

The team was formed to boost information gathering as pressure builds on the government to deliver convictions.

“The team has so far held several meetings and developed a wide range of measures which are being implemented,” Halakhe Waqo, EACC chief executive said on Tuesday.

“We are pleased to report that in the short duration of this initiative, significant achievements have been realised.” Other agencies in the team include the Financial Reporting Centre and the yet to be formed Asset Recovery Agency.

READ: Treasury stripped of budget role in new anti-graft war

The KRA has extensive databases on asset ownership with all property and vehicle purchases going through the authority. The taxman collects stamp duty on transactions such as transfer of properties, shares and stocks. Vehicle logbook transfers also fall under the tax agency.

President Kenyatta said on November 23 that Kenya would introduce new anti-corruption legislation, blacklist officials accused of graft and revoke the licences of banks violating money-laundering rules.

He also promised to improve investigations into corruption and increase prosecutions.