Three
masqueraders have taken over Mombasa container freight stations where they run
an extortion syndicate through the tacit support of top customs officers based
at Times Towers, the Kenya Revenue Authority headquarters in Nairobi.
Sources
within Kilindini customs say that the trio, a lady and two men who are reported
to be the main masterminds behind the syndicate of an elaborate tax evasion
scheme have even acquired KRA passwords through which they transact their
illicit trade depriving the government the much needed revenue.
“We
are surprised how outsiders have managed to squeeze themselves within the KRA
system and are comfortably reporting to our offices daily and handling
sensitive matters without anyone raising a finger. Every time investigators are
sent from Nairobi, they are tipped to stay away for as long as the team is
around and later resume their dirty transactions. These people are so powerful
no one dares touch them for that will earn one an instant transfer,” said a KRA
staffer on condition of anonymity.
Other
KRA staffers say the imposters are the equivalent of the infamous Waiganjo of
the police force service.
The
racketeers are said to have grown extremely rich for the last four years they
have been in operation and their lifestyle is unmatched by the senior KRA staffers.
Among other goings-on, they are hired as conduits by unscrupulous
businesspeople with intent to evade taxes. Assumed as insiders, they know which
officer is on which password and are able to manipulate the process to get
their way.
Sometimes,
they are used by tax evaders to distribute cash in envelopes to various
officers to lure them as contraband containers are smuggled from the container
freight stations. The lady officer who sometimes dons a KRA skirt uniform to
hoodwink her victims is said to be a Kamba who most of the time is based at
Boss Freight CFS. She is a former casual employee at KRA. The other notorious
operative also from the same locality is mostly based at Consolbase CFS but
coordinates the clandestine activities in all KRA areas.
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