The Standard Group Plc is a
multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper
print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key
influence in matters of national and international interest.
Activist Boniface Mwangi during an interview with The Standard on Friday, July 2, 2021 [David Njaaga, Standard]
Activist Boniface Mwangi’s latest mistreatment at the hands of “tax collectors” is just one of several episodes that threaten to be a hot-button issue. Challenging a gang of mask-wearing men, led by a gun-toting policeman, to identify themselves, he was met with obstinate belligerence and eventually wrestled to the ground, sustaining bruises in the process.
The Kenya Police Service denied that undue force was used. But footage from CCTV cameras repudiates their pat explanations even as small business owners attest to what has now become the norm in Nairobi. It seems business premises within the environs of the city have become magnets for various government agencies ostensibly looking for evidence of compliance with onerous licensing requirements. If it isn’t Kenya Revenue Authority officers demanding access to ETR machines, it is county government employees pressing for various business permits, some of which appear to have been conjured on the go.
Premium Article
Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week.
Fact-first reporting that puts you at the heart of the newsroom. Subscribe for full access.
Stand With Bold Journalism.
Stand With The Standard.
Journalism can't be free because the truth demands investment.
At The Standard, we invest time, courage and skills to bring you accurate,
factual and impactful stories. Subscribe today and stand with us in the
pursuit of credible journalism.