Clearing agents furious over CFSs closure, accuse gov’t of frustration

Clearing agents whose goods are still stuck at the two controversial Container Fright Stations (CFSs) in Mombasa are now accusing the government of creating more obstacles to frustrate release of their cargo.

Led by Importers of Kenya National Chairman Peter Mambembe, the agents claim despite their cargo having been scanned at the port before release to their stations, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has subjected their consignments to a full verification process.

The clearing agents have termed the slow pace of clearing cargo from the two CFSs as a deliberate attempt by the government to frustrate the importers hence attracting higher storage charges.

They are now threatening to return to court on Monday if the government does not release their cargo.

This comes just days after KRA and police officers ordered importers with goods stuck at Portside and Autoport stations owned by Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho’s family to collect them immediately.

KRA Commissioner General John Njiraini however defended action by the customs department to suspend operating licenses of two CFSs saying that they are suspected of facilitating the importation of contraband goods including sugar, rice, ethanol and other highly sought after commodities.

In a statement to newsrooms, the Commissioner General said that this undermines the tax collection efforts of the authority while also frustrating national development objectives aimed at promoting Kenyan enterprise.

Njiraini further noted that the action that has been met with acrimony from the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) politicians is part of streamlining operation on the CFSs to ensure compliance with new guidelines.

The action by KRA has been received with suspicion from the political class especially from the opposition with CORD luminary Raila Odinga terming the move as an oppressive act aimed at taking the country back to the old days.

Autoport and Portside Container Freight Stations are associated with Governor Joho and were shut down on 28th January 2016 by officials from KRA and the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) over claims the facilities were conduits for illegal consignments.