Cheruiyot’s call for clear guidelines regarding customs and taxation procedures echoes Tourism CS’s lament on the impact of ‘shameful’ searches on travelers and the tourism industry.
Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot has addressed the ongoing Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) searches at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and called for the National Assembly Finance Committee’s intervention to clarify the matter.
Cheruiyot has stressed the importance of providing clear distinctions between personal items and goods meant for commercial purposes during these searches.
“The National Assembly Finance Committee holds the key to alleviating the national shame that is the KRA searches at JKIA. By providing the necessary clarity needed to distinguish goods for commercial ventures and personal items,” Senator Cheruiyot emphasized.
This development follows KRA’s controversial social media post that was later taken down after widespread public backlash. In the post, the tax authority claimed that all goods, whether new or used, are subject to taxation for travelers.
KRA also warned that passengers carrying goods valued above Ksh 75,000 would be liable for taxation.
Meanwhile, Tourism Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua expressed concerns over the impact of KRA’s searches on tourists and the tourism industry. He believes that the treatment tourists receive upon arrival discourages them from returning to Kenya.
Mutua stated that tourists are subjected to intrusive searches by KRA officers, which include going through their belongings and personal items, leading to an unpleasant experience for visitors.
“When a tourist arrives, carrying cameras, shoes, or looking to shop, they are asked to open their bags. Their underwear is inspected, and their possessions are scrutinized, including cameras, shoes, and perfume,” Mutua lamented.
Senator Cheruiyot’s call for parliamentary intervention underscores the need for clear guidelines regarding customs and taxation procedures to prevent negative impacts on travelers and the tourism industry.
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