The Court of Appeal has restored KRA’s power to snoop on tax evaders’ MPESA and bank accounts. In a ruling, the court argues that hindering KRA from accessing the information may cripple the agency’s mandate to collect taxes.

Furthermore, the court felt that KRA would suffer irreversible loss of huge sums of money. The reinstated section of the law will compel third-party firms such as telcos, banks, and schools to share information on persons and firms suspected to be evading taxes.

In today’s globalised world, characterised by the ever increasing trans-boundary flows of people and goods, the further spread of the pandemic is even greater. Infectious diseases spread more quickly than they ever have before, as evidenced by SARs, Ebola, Zika and bird flu outbreaks with the largest in the 21st century being COVI9-19 that has become a global matter.