If you are an unauthorized person and you are found loitering around the Kenya Revenue Authority offices, you will be arrested and charged a fine not less than 5000 shillings or face a jail term of two years or both.
The Cabinet Secretary for Interior Security, Dr. Fred Matiang’i has issued this notice under the protected areas act, that all KRA offices countrywide are officially listed as protected areas and anyone found around them without being on official duty, shall be prosecuted.
Claims have it that unauthorized persons have been colluding with staff members around the KRA premises and this has increased corruption activities.
The fine will double if the person is found in possession of weapons, ammunition and any explosives, where the offender would pay 10,000 shillings or face a jail term of five years or both.
If found, you should prove that you are on duty or you have sought permission from Commissioner-General James Mburu.
The Protected Areas Act covers the following areas as restricted; military barracks, weapons factories, government mines, camps, State House and Lodges, signal stations, military ships, foreign embassies, consulates, Central Bank of Kenya premises and now the KRA offices.
In his notice, Dr. Matiang’i stated, “The areas, places or premises described in the schedule are declared to be protected areas for purposes of the Act and no person shall be in the specified areas without the permission of the prescribed authority or the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government.”
Making sketches or taking images or pictures of the premises is also prohibited and one would face similar charges if found breaching these rules.
A good number of KRA staff members are to be prosecuted following accusations of them helping people to dodge tax payments, altering tax returns and even clearing cargo. The CS termed these occurrences are mostly caused by staff collusion with public members.
Members of the public are supposed to take precautions in order to avoid being caught on the wrong side of the law. Avoid walking around the protected areas at night or even transmitting intelligent information about the areas.