Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir took a stand following the court and President William Ruto‘s intervention after he banned the transportation, distribution, sale, and consumption of Muguka in his County.
Shariff stated that he had agreed to suspend his county’s ban on muguka after a call from the President who revealed that leaders from counties that had banned muguka agreed to participate in a meeting of all stakeholders to be convened by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.
The Governor was speaking on Thursday, May 30, 2024, during a press briefing flanked by other leaders where he also addressed an earlier raid by Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officials on his Radio Station.
Abdulswamad described the raid as a way to threaten him and challenged leaders to employ similar tenacity used in threatening him to deal with the abuse of muguka.
“We have lifted the ban in respect to the court order, but I would like to ask the government to also put the same energy that is used to fight us in fighting hard drugs in our region,” said Nassir.
Nassir added that he was disappointed with the intimidation and threats leaders from the Coast region were getting from their counterparts’ following their refusal to have the addictive stimulant consumed in their areas.
Abdulswamad on Radio Station Raid
The governor was on Wednesday convinced that a visit by KRA officials seeking to auction his radio station, Radio Rahma, was a direct reaction to his choice to ban muguka.
Also Read: Court Gives Way Forward on Muguka Ban in Mombasa & Kilifi
KRA in a statement on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, confirmed that it had indeed taken enforcement actions against the media station.
The authority explained that the raid was effected after it followed the right procedures including the issuance of demand notices to the company.
“KRA attention has been drawn to media reports on enforcement actions taken regarding the tax compliance of Rahma Broadcasting Limited. KRA confirms that all due diligence procedures were followed, including the issuance of demand notices to the company,” said KRA in a statement.
In addition, the Authority said the actions were taken following a determination that Rahma Broadcasting Limited was non-compliant in filing and meeting various tax obligations.
KRA revealed that engagements with the management of Rahma Broadcasting Limited have been ongoing since taxes became due and payable.
Also Read: Ruto Breaks Silence on Muguka, Issues Directive
According to the taxman, commitments that were reached with the Shariff-owned company were not honored which justified the raid.
Coast leaders appeal to President Ruto
Meanwhile, Governor Nassir maintained that he is open to meeting President Ruto and leaders from Embu County to streamline regulations governing the trade of muguka.
According to Abdulswamad, the leaders were acting in capacity of the people who have expressed concerns on the rising criminal cases, especially by young people.
Likoni Member of Parliament Mishi Mboko on her part echoed Nassir’s sentiments while pleading with the president to consider the effects caused by the drug especially on school going children.
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