KRA Destroys Ksh 30M Counterfeit Excisable Goods

The goods comprising of wines, spirits and cigarettes were recently seized from unscrupulous traders in Kisumu, Kakamega, Eldoret, Mumias, Malaba,Busia, Eldoret, Kericho, Kapsabet among others.

This was during an operation by a team of KRA officers from the Market Surveillance Office (MSO) unit who have been conducting countrywide inspections on traders suspected to be selling fake excisable merchandise to unsuspecting consumers.

In a statement to the media, the Head of the Market Surveillance Office, Mr. Caxton Masudi said that KRA had embarked on a countrywide inspection drive to enhance compliance levels among traders selling excisable goods. 

“KRA has decided to enhance its market surveillance operations to ensure that traders adhere to rules and regulations set up by the Authority to ensure that only approved excisable goods are consumed by the public and that tax due to the government are paid,” said Mr. Masudi.

The market surveillance operations entail inspection of excisable goods, inspection of premises and transactional records to ensure compliance with the Turn Over Tax (TOT) Value Added Tax (VAT) and Customs and Excise Laws.

To enhance compliance levels, traders selling excisable goods are required to issue Electronic Tax Register (ETR) receipts on all sale transactions.

The destruction of the goods took place in Kisumu Water and Sewerage Company premises and was witnessed by representatives from Kisumu County, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), Public Health, Kenya Police, and Kisumu County Commissioner.

By Wangui Ngechu