Governor Abdulswamad Confronts KRA Officers Who Stormed His Radio Station Over Taxes: "Tokeni"

• Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officers raided Mombasa governor's radio station over alleged failure to pay taxes on Wednesday, May 29
• The officials wanted to auction the station and remove the transmitters to recover the tax arrears
• However, Governor Nassir Abdulswamad dismissed the claims and linked the raid to threats following his stand on the ban of muguka in Mombasa

An altercation ensued in Rahma Radio headquarters in Mombasa after Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officers stormed the radio premises on Wednesday, May 29.

Mombasa governor Abdulswamad Nassir is a significant shareholder in the Mombasa-based broadcaster.

Why did KRA officials storm Rahma Radio?

KRA officials stormed the radio station over unpaid taxes, threatening to auction the station.

Governor Abdulswamad, however, said there needed to be an official communication from KRA and needed to be made aware of any auctioneering process to be done.

"When you came in, I spoke to various officials from KRA and everyone said they were unaware of this raid. Have you been sent to threaten us?" he questioned.

According to Abdulswamad, the officials had threatened to carry the radio's transmitters and other equipment.

Nassir links the raid to his stand on muguka

In their defense, a male officer's voice is heard explaining that they had not been sent to threaten the governor following his recent stand on muguka.

"We did not harass anyone; we agreed with those whom we talked to and did not harass anyone," the officer said.

Offended, Abdulswamad further stood his ground firm that he would not be threatened or cowardly attacked by attacks on his properties following his move to ban the selling and distribution of muguka in Mombasa.

"If you have been sent to harass us, we are not going to take the matter lightly. If it is my stand on muguka making people use threats, I want to tell you I will not be moved. Let's talk outside," Nassir angrily lamented.

President William Ruto dismisses ban on muguka

After a meeting with leaders from counties that plant miraa and muguka at State House Nairobi, Abdulswamad stand was met with a shocker after President William Ruto overruled the ban.

According to Ruto, muguka and miraa are recognised as scheduled crops in the Crops Act 2013, as well as the Miraa Regulations 2023.

The ban on muguka and miraa by three coastal counties was termed unconstitutional.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke

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Mombasa governor Abdullswamad Nassir.

Governor Abdulswamad Confronts KRA Officers Who Stormed His Radio

KRA defends raid at Mombasa Governor Nassir's radio station