IMPORTERS have criticised the Kenya Revenue Authority for requiring 100 per cent verification of all cargo leaving Autoports and Portside container freight station.
The CFSs belong to Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho’s family and have been closed.
The importers on Saturday said this directive delays cargo clearance.
Two weeks ago, the KRA suspended operating licences of the two CFSs after they were accused of handling smuggled goods, including sugar, ethanol and rice.
Last Monday, the KRA gave the two firms 36 hours to clear all cargo held at the stations.
However, on Tuesday afternoon, Port police boss Zaccheus Nge’no led a heavily armed police contingent and closed the premises.
This happened despite a court order stopping KRA from interfering with the two businesses.
Speaking to journalists at the Portside CFS, importers said the national government is frustrating them, since the 100 per cent verification leads to cargo delay.
Association of Importers of Kenya chairman Peter Mambembe said they will challenge the directive in court today.
“At the Port of Mombasa, we have KRA officials, police, criminal investigation officers and scanners, among other government agencies. Cargo should be verified at the port and not at the CFSs,” he said.
Mambembe said this is tantamount to frustrations and importers will boycott paying taxes.
“The political war between the national government and Joho’s family should not affect businesses of other people,” he said.
Mambembe said the Kenya Ports Authority has no mandate to nominate a CFS and they will challenge that in court today.
“An importer should be free to nominate his or her CFS of choice. Why should the KPA be mandated to nominate a CFS on behalf of an importer?” he said.
