The Kenya International Freight and Warehousing Association (KIFWA) has dismissed claims that its members are being frustrated by customs at the Port of Mombasa, giving the taxman a clean bill of health.
This follows claims by a section of public under the Bunge La Mwananchi tag, which has accused a Kenya Revenue Authority officer of frustrating clearing agents doing business at the port.
A video clip from a press briefing in Mombasa, by the group referring to itself as Bunge la Mwananchi, accuses a top official at KRA of demanding bribes on containers being cleared at the Kilindini harbour.
Yesterday, KIFWA distanced itself from the group which claimed to represent a section of clearing agents in the country.
Chairman Roy Mwanthi said KIFWA is the sole representative of the customs agents, freight forwarders and warehousing companies in Kenya, and has not recorded any incidence.
“KIFWA hereby wishes to totally distance itself from the so called Bunge la Mwanachi sentiments as it is not a bonafide representative of customs agents in Kenya and therefore their sentiments are not in any way those of KIFWA leadership,” Mwanthi said.
KIFWA is registered by the Registrar of Societies in accordance with Chapter 108 of the Societies Act, of the Laws of Kenya and recognised by KRA Commissioner of Customs and Border Control Department, as stipulated in regulation 150 (1)(c)(vii) of the East African Community Customs Management Regulation 2010.
Its members are licensed by the Commissioner under Section 145 of the East African Community Customs Management Act (EACCMA) 2004.
Mwanthi said bonafide KIFWA members are aware of clearly laid out procedures of lodging their challenges or complaints against any Partner Government Agency (PGA) or official, through its secretariat.
“As per our constitution, it is only the chairperson of the association who is our official spokesperson, and therefore the only authorised person to speak on behalf of customs agents and freight forwarders at large,” Mwanthi explained.
“It is therefore unfortunate for anybody other than the KIFWA chairperson or any other official delegated by the chairperson to purport to speak on behalf of KIFWA.”
He said as body corporate, KIFWA has a structured framework of engaging key stakeholders in the industry, including KRA and other Partner Government Agencies, in creating a conducive business environment and addressing any arising industry issues.
“We wish to state that we enjoy cordial relations and have confidence in the various available engagement platforms as enshrined in our MOU with KRA, other PGAs and all our stakeholders including the private sector,” said Mwanthi.