Govt Pursues Morara Kebaso Over Ksh27M in Unpaid Taxes

The government has launched investigations into firebrand activist Morara Kebaso, who gained popularity by questioning stalled projects.

According to reporting from Nation, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has launched investigations into Morara over failure to pay taxes on revenues generated from his businesses over the last three years.

According to the taxman, Morara owes Ksh27 million in unpaid taxes.

KRA, in a notice to Morara, noted that the activist has five businesses and has failed to remit taxes on Ksh186 million generated over the last three years. According to the taxman, the businesses have been filing nil returns “despite the fact of ownership of properties, business undertakings, and other assets.”

Analysis from KRA shows that Morara has three bank accounts, two registered to a real estate and furniture business, respectively, and one registered to him. The two businesses are said to have been receiving payments via paybill.

The analysis further shows that the businesses raked in Ksh9.5 million in 2022, another Ksh31.9 million in 2023, and Ksh144.9 million in 2024, adding up to Ksh186.3 million over the last three years.

“The trade credits were compared with income tax turnover declared in the income tax returns, to which it was noted that you are a non-filer, to determine undeclared income turnover. It was noted that you are not registered for Value Added Tax (VAT),” KRA told the activist.

According to KRA, the activist owes the taxman Ksh27 million. To arrive at that figure, KRA notes that Morara’s businesses have VAT due of Ksh25.7 million. Morara additionally owes another Ksh1.37 million coming from his income tax.

KRA also lists records from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) indicating that Kebaso has four cars, a tuktuk and a motorcycle. “These assets are owned despite a declaration of nil or non-filing of income,” KRA stated. 

Our efforts to reach Morara for comment failed. He had not publicly commented on the matter either.

Morara gained popularity last year when he began making trips to various government projects that have stalled. His activism resonated with Kenyans, who started sponsoring him to make trips to expose the government. His brand of activism has, however, been a divisive issue.

In an interview at the start of the year, Kebaso revealed Kenyans have sent him Ksh6 million. “We have the PA system and the vehicle which together cost about Ksh2.5 million, we have covered more than 50,000 kilometres (with) about Ksh1.5 to 2 million worth of fuel. There is also furniture, printers, computers for researchers who come to work every day, salaries, and other expenses. Since we started to date, we have spent about Ksh5 million to Ksh6 million,” he stated.