The Kenya Revenue Authority has entered a critical stage in its operations following the death of one senior manager from Domestic Taxes department Mr. Antony Gichia.
The agency has quarantined 9 staff members so far according to Kevin Safari, the head of the KRA Customs.
“To date, we have had to send nine officers on self-quarantine,” Mr Safari told the employees through a WhatsApp communication.
Mr Safari also communicated the measures the agency has taken in order to prevent the spread of the virus.
“Ask importers, custom agents and transporters to scan and email all their correspondence. Do not invite or allow anyone into your workspace, including fellow staff,” Mr Safari directed “Wear gloves, and face masks while on duty and if they are not available, buy them using office imprest. There should absolutely be no meeting of more than six people. Take covid-19 seriously. This time it is personal.”
Last month, blogger Cyprian Nyakundi revealed that KRA senior management had jetted in from Europe and had mingled with staff disregarding the 14 days quarantine period announced by the government.
The blogger was then summoned by the police, he spent more than 24 hours in a cell, what he was accused of was not really clear.
https://twitter.com/CisNyakundi/status/1242875217069969414?s=20
A problem that could have been averted by reducing staff in the onset of the coronavirus has now turned into a big headache for the tax collector.
KRA has since cut down on its staff in non-core areas, with non-crucial staff asked to work from home or remotely.
