Baite TV given one week notice to clear tax debt

Meru vernacular station, Baite TV, has been given one week to clear tax debts owed to the county government.

Meru Revenue Board General Manager John Ntoiti warned that failure to comply would result in the station’s property being impounded.

“The alternative to arresting the manager is to remove the antennae they use to transmit, all machines and microphones and take them to our offices until they pay because the law gives us power. We do not need to go to court because our county laws are enough,” Ntoiti said.

The station is owned by Meru Woman Representative Kawira Mwangaza and her husband Murega Baicu, who is the manager.

On Friday, there was an altercation between Ntoiti and Mwangaza when the board unsuccessfully tried to arrest Baicu.

“Baite TV is not special. If indeed the agent slips that they are posting on social media platforms are genuine then why did they not bring them to our offices so that we could process the license? It only takes two minutes,” Ntoiti said.

The county is trying to recover Sh509,203 debt from the station for single business permits, vehicle branding, change of land use from agricultural to commercial use and a communication mast.

The debt has accrued since 2016.

Governor Kiraitu Murungi has backed the revenue board’s efforts and advised the station’s management to pay their taxes and stop politicising the process.

Ntoiti has called upon all enforcement officers across the county to be on the lookout for Baicu and apprehend him. He also requested the public to report when they see the news anchor and musician.