Joyciline Jepkosgei
Kenyan athletes have been asked to declare goods and get an exemption letter from Treasury through Athletics Kenya federation and the Ministry of Sports.
This is after Joycilne Jepkosgei who finished fifth at the recent Chicago Marathon, asked for help in a whatsapp group, in the wee morning hours of Wednesday after having an encounter with the Kenya Revenue Authority officials at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.
“Hello everyone, we arrived at airport from Chicago marathon need help here at the airport, KRA offices have taken two bags of training shoes charging every shoe 19000 kindly help.” Wrote Jepkosgei.
The 40 pairs of sports shoes which were under the custody of coach Peter Bii had been detained at the airport since they landed on Tuesday 15th at 10pm. Were meant to be distributed among Jepkosgey and 26 other athletes in their camp in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet.
Athletics Kenya youth chairman Barnabas Korir explained that according to the East African Community Customs management ACT, KRA is within its mandate to charge custom duty.
However, through a local arrangement if the athlete is expected to come back with shoes or goods from their kit sponsor and are of personal use, the athlete is supposed to inform the federation to get the exemption letter.
“Lately, some arrangements have been made. Any athlete bringing shoes will seek a letter from Athletics Kenya as a support document. So far, this has worked for many athletes.” Said Korir.
Korir added that the federations had formerly wrote to the former Cabinet Secretary of Sports Ababu Namwamba to intervene on the matter and give a waiver but their request was rejected by Treasury.
“KRA is constitutionally mandated to collect revenue. This issue requires parliamentary intervention. Last year, a young athlete’s shoes were detained at the airport, we tried to intervene but we were not successful.”
