Taxman invites EACC to investigate staff over BAT bribery scandal

Commissioner General, Kenya Revenue Authority, John Njiraini. [PHOTO: FIDELIS KABUNYI/STANDARD]

The taxman has invited the anti-corruption watchdog to investigate allegations that its staff received bribes from cigarette maker British American Tobacco (BAT) to spy on its Kenyan rival firm.

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in its investigative show Panorama reported that BAT executives paid bribes to Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officials to spy on Mastermind Tobacco — the manufacturer of Supermatch cigarettes — and hand over tax files.