Officials from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) will now start using wearable cameras, colloquially known as body cams, in an attempt to reduce tax dodging and bribery, the taxman has announced.
These would mostly be utilized by employees working in the domestic tax department and customs and border control, according to KRA Commissioner General Githii Mburu on Tuesday.
“Very soon, we’ll also make sure that our law enforcement agents are equipped with body-worn cameras, similar to those you see in the US, so that whatever they do is captured on camera and visible to us. We’ll also need to know why you put it off when you do it “In an interview with the Business Daily, Mr. Mburu stated.
“This is to prevent you from being involved in activities that will harm our goals while you engage in activities outside. We must use risk management where the dangers are greatest, thus there will be more police at border crossing locations where goods are brought in and brought out as well as in all of our customs regions.” Mr. Mburu highlighted.
The KRA estimates that excise tax evasion costs them Ksh.12 billion every year.
Mr. Mburu stated that the usage of cameras will begin with high-profile locations such as border crossings, Mombasa Port, the Inland Container Depot, and JKIA where incidences of theft, fraud in the declaration of returns, corruption, and bribery have been reported.