The Scrap Metal Council has protested to Kenya Revenue Authority over some of its officials at border points, allegedly colluding with scrap metal operators exporting materials to neighbouring countries.
The Council has written a complaint letter to the authority seeking to have the officials punished.
This, after it emerged that KRA officials manning the Taveta Hololi station last Friday released two trucks loaded with scrap batteries enroute to Tanzania, moments after the police intercepted them.
The two trucks were ferrying over 30 tonnes of scrap batteries to the neighbouring country.
Yesterday, Council chairman Francis Mugo confirmed that he had written the authority protesting the habit of its officers.
“As a council we have not issued any export licence for export of scrap batteries.I will officially lodge a complaint with KRA against the officers aiding smuggling,” Mugo said.
The council chair demanded that action must be taken on officers who frustrate the work of entities mandated to bring sanity in the industry.
Mugo said the council will be pushing for a working partnership with KRA and the police, in the fight against the smuggling of scrap metal to neighbouring countries.
He decried the massive smuggling of scrap batteries to Tanzania which he said posed a serious threat to the local industries.
Mugo said in an interview that he has already written to the two bodies, seeking their intervention on the matter.
“I wrote to the Commissioner General and the Inspector General of Police last week on the need to work together in fighting illegal business along our borders,” Mugo said.
He added; “We can only control the vice by working in cooperation. The council does not man the border points, it’s the work of the police and the KRA, if we work together, we will easily stop the illegal business. Unfortunately, some crooked officers are colluding with the smugglers to allow the illegal business.”
The Taveta, Busia and Namanga border points have been named as some of the most used by the smugglers to export scrap metal to Tanzania and Uganda.
Mugo said he has raised the matter with the county commissioners of Mombasa Busia and Kajiado on the need to corroborate so as to contain the vice.
The council has embarked on an exercise aimed at weeding out rogue dealers within the industry.
“The law is clear on this, that exporting scrap metal is illegal and therefore they are doing so knowing that they are engaging in illegal business. The council will not hesitate to cancel their licences,” he warned.
Police have in the last month intercepted five trucks transporting scrap batteries to Tanzania, along Taveta and Loitoktok border points.
Mugo said those found with material suspected to have been stolen or vandalised from critical public and private sectors infrastructure will have their licenses revoked.
He said the council is monitoring the industry to ensure players conform to regulations.
He urged government agencies to collaborate with the council when disposing scrap metal as a way of helping curb the vice.