The Kenya Revenue Authority – KRA on Monday, October 30, sparked an online storm after its post stating that all goods worth ($500) Ksh 75,000 should be declared when entering Kenya.
Coming on the back of complaints of custom officials harassing Kenyans at various entry points, the Revenue Authority moved to clarify what goods should be declared.
In the post sent out on Monday, October 30, evening, KRA asserted that all goods, new or used, valued at beyond Ksh75,000 must be declared and subjected to tax at the various entry points.
“Remember when you are travelling you will be allowed to carry personal or household items worth $500 and below. Anything above the amount shall be subjected to tax,” KRA stated.
However, the post attracted even more furor with Kenyans criticizing the cap as being too low. Moments after the backlash, KRA pulled the post down and consequently caused further criticism.
Kenyans criticize KRA for harsh regulations
Some of the comments seen by The Kenya Times argued that the cap was too low and most personal electronics surpass the sum given by KRA.
Moreover, Kenyans who took to their social media handles complained that some goods beyond the Ksh75,000 cap are meant to be gifts carried by Kenyans coming back from abroad for their family members.
In addition, social media users reacting to the KRA post termed the tax cap as punitive and detrimental to Kenya’s tourism sector.
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“If there is one image KRA will regret sharing, it’s this one. It’s scaring all potential tourists, and it has gone viral in all tourism forums. It scares people that even their used laptops and phones are not free from taxation as long as they cost more,” Robert Alai- Kileleshwa Ward representative stated.
“Kindly clarify why the post about taxation of goods worth 500 dollars and above was deleted, thank you,” another one commented.
Another one stated: “Must be some huge joke, most cell phones cost more than 500 dollars, anyway there are other holiday destinations without such ridiculous regulations, see why Kenya is losing its citizens to diaspora countries?”
Mutua vows to address tourists’ complaints
The heated conversation surrounding the treatment of Kenyans and tourists arriving from abroad was ignited by Tourism Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua’s comments on the alleged mistreatment.
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Addressing a meeting with stakeholders on Monday, CS Mutua called out custom officials at the JKIA over the harassment complaints, noting that it was a challenge to Kenya’s tourism.
Mutua compared the alleged treatment of tourists at the JKIA to the regulations used in Kenya’s competitors in the tourism sector.
At the same time, Mutua, who moved to the Tourism docket in early October vowed to address the concerns and push for changes in the KRA process at the JKIA and other entry points.
“Then we start wondering why they don’t come back. They go to Rwanda and they are not harassed, Kwani Rwanda does not collect taxes,” Mutua said noting that Kenya was ceding ground to competitors due to the unfriendly tax regulations.
