How It Started.
It was somewhere between April 2024 when whispers from within the offices of Tecno Transsion Electronics (Pvt) Ltd in Nairobi began to catch the attention of local authorities when allegations surfaced of financial misconduct, particularly regarding the non-remittance of Pay As You Earn (PAYE) deductions.
Many began speaking out about practices that raised serious questions about the company’s operations. Soon what began as internal concerns soon attracted the attention of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) which started to closely examine Tecno’s operations.
Among the most pressing accusations was the company’s alleged failure to meet its tax obligations.
KRA agents launched a thorough investigation that culminated in a dramatic raid at Tecno’s Nairobi offices in Cardinal Otunga Plaza in May 2024.
Inside the offices, agents recovered a stockpile of documents which were to help KRA demonstrate undisclosed salary payments, unreported supplier transactions and a pattern of financial mismanagement that had long been hidden from the public eye.
Agents also reportedly seized large sums of cash in both local and international denominations indicating a possible attempt to avoid traceable transactions and tax liabilities.
Following the raid, the mood among the whistleblowers was one of cautious optimism.
For the first time, it seemed like the full extent of Tecno’s alleged financial mismanagement, racial abuse and labour violations were in the hands of the authorities.
The whistleblowers had gone to great lengths to share information about Tecno’s operations through independent journalists, bloggers and anonymous tip-offs to watchdog organizations.
Many had already seen firsthand the troubles that permeated the company. They hoped that the raid marked the beginning of accountability.
The issues were clear: salaries paid in cash with no records, PAYE deductions being taken from employees wages but never remitted and foreign workers operating without proper documentation.
In a shocking revelation that has potentially far-reaching implications for Kenya’s fiscal integrity, credible sources claim that Humphrey Wattanga, the Commissioner General of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), allegedly received a bribe of Ksh. 100 million from officials of the Chinese tech giant, Tecno Mobile in cash to the investigation of the over Sh400b tax evasion figure.
No official statement has been released by KRA or Tecno concerning these allegations. The lack of immediate response from both entities has only fueled speculation and public demand for transparency. The Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) has yet to comment on whether they will launch an investigation into these serious allegations.
As this story develops, it will be critical to monitor any official investigations, statements, or actions from both KRA and Tecno. The integrity of one of Kenya’s key institutions for revenue collection is at stake, alongside the broader implications for corporate accountability in Africa’s tax regimes.
This incident also raises questions about the effectiveness of current checks and balances within KRA, especially concerning high-profile cases involving multinational companies. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether these allegations will lead to a broader crackdown on corruption or if they will dissipate without significant repercussions.
KenyanHour 