NAIROBI (Halbeeg News) – Somali khat traders have sued Mandera County council over the collection of illegal tax amid allegations of graft in the county increase.
Dozens of high ranking officials in the defunct county council and the town council of Mandera has been accused of making away with over 700,000 USD for the last five years.
Ali Abdullahi Ahmed, Khat trader told the media that the leaders of Saving and Credit Cooperative Organisation (SACCO) of Khat traders filed a suit at the High Court in Garissa seeking compensation for illegal cess collection.
“On our behalf, leaders of Mandera Khat Sacco lodged a suit at Garissa High Court to get back 70,000 USD initial paid to County council,” Ahmed said.
Lawyer Oduor Odinga, who represented the traders said the Khat dealers opted to move to court seeking compensation over tax extortion
“The traders moved to court for refund of the accrued amounts collected totalling to their claim but the county government opted for a negotiation out of the court and after failing to honour, the traders decided to move to Garissa high court,” said lawyer Oduor Odinga, who represented the traders.
After the suit file was submitted, Garissa Hight called Mander County Finance Executive, Ibrahim Barrow to appeared in the witness stand to testify to the court on the claims made by the traders.
“There is nothing unique with the taxes Ali paid. The court should not allow him to demand almost Sh70 million ($70,000) of public money that he has no proof, nor substantiated and, if anything, for the little that has been paid, services have been received,” Ibrahim said.
The High Court judge, George Dullu, asked the council for the parties to write and serve a written submission to the court within 14 days.
The case was adjourned to September 26 to fix a judgment date.
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