‘I can account for all my wealth,’ ex-Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero says

Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero says he can account for all his wealth amid his ongoing tussle with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) over funds raised for his previous campaigns.

The former Nairobi boss is facing accusations of tax evasion for money he maintains was raised and used for political party campaigns towards his Nairobi gubernatorial bid, thus making it immune to taxation.

Kidero, speaking on Citizen TV’s Day Break show on Thursday, stated that he can clearly attribute his fortune.

“Absolutely! I can,” said Kidero, adding: “That’s the reason, on the issue of tax, when I was assessed, I went to the tax tribunal and I won.”

Kidero was earlier this month ordered to pay KRA Ksh.427,269,795.00 in taxes for the campaign funds.

“KRA appealed, but let us go into it because it is going through the normal (court) process,” said the former governor.

​​Justice David Majanja, in a ruling on February 4, stated that Kidero had failed to demonstrate that the funds in question were raised for the campaigns and were actually utilized for that purpose. 

The directive followed an audit by the taxman over the fundraiser money.

“I agree with the Commissioner that the Respondent failed to discharge his burden as the evidence on record could not support the conclusions reached by the Tribunal. 

“Consequently, the Tribunal erred in imposing on the Commissioner the burden of disproving the Respondent’s contention that the KES 423,000,000.00 was election campaign contributions when he had not provided sufficient evidence to surmount his obligation to establish this source of income,” said Justice Majanja.

The audit had revealed that the money was being deposited together with other business proceeds into Kidero’s personal bank accounts.