[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"layout-categories":3,"layout-countries":36,"layout-hot-news":53,"news-article:inside-the-kra-proposal-freezing-taxpayers-assets-until-appeals-are-heard":54,"news-last-updates:23":111,"news-related:23":244,"news-comments:23":306},[4,12,19,25,30],{"id":5,"title":6,"fullTitle":6,"description":7,"icon":8,"alias":9,"color":10,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},5,"Sustainability","Climate action, conservation, and green initiatives shaping the region's future.",null,"sustainability","",false,{"id":13,"title":14,"fullTitle":15,"description":16,"icon":8,"alias":17,"color":18,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},1,"Cooperation","International Cooperation & Partnerships","Coverage of partnerships, international relations, and collaborative initiatives","cooperation","#669c35",{"id":20,"title":21,"fullTitle":22,"description":23,"icon":8,"alias":24,"color":10,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},4,"Politics","Politics & Conflict","Diplomatic affairs, regional tensions, and political developments in and around Tanzania.","politics",{"id":26,"title":27,"fullTitle":27,"description":28,"icon":8,"alias":29,"color":10,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},3,"Business","Trade, investment, and economic cooperation between Tanzania and its neighbors.","business",{"id":31,"title":32,"fullTitle":32,"description":33,"icon":8,"alias":34,"color":35,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},2,"Tech & Innovation","Digital transformation, startups, and tech solutions driving change in East Africa.","tech-and-innovation","#f5ec00",[37,40,43,46,50],{"id":26,"title":38,"alias":39},"Kenya","kenya",{"id":20,"title":41,"alias":42},"Rwanda","rwanda",{"id":5,"title":44,"alias":45},"Uganda","uganda",{"id":47,"title":48,"alias":49},6,"Zambia","zambia",{"id":31,"title":51,"alias":52},"DR Congo","dr-congo",[],{"id":55,"title":56,"alias":57,"publishedAt":58,"description":59,"previewImage":60,"author":61,"sections":64,"tags":87,"relatedTags":99,"categories":100,"countryCategories":102,"relatedPosts":104,"nextArticle":105,"likesCount":76,"isLiked":11,"isCommentsEnabled":109,"commentsCount":76,"views":110,"readingTime":31},23,"Inside the KRA proposal: freezing taxpayers assets until appeals are heard","inside-the-kra-proposal-freezing-taxpayers-assets-until-appeals-are-heard","23-05-2026 11:30","\u003Cp>The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is pushing for significant enforcement powers under the Finance Bill of 2026, which could allow tax authorities to actively seek payment of disputed taxes and freeze taxpayers' assets until appeals are finalized. These proposals, which amend the Law on Tax Procedures and the Tax Appeals Tribunal system, represent a significant expansion of the KRA's powers as the government seeks to increase revenue to address the growing debt and budget deficit.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.the-port-brief.co.tz\u002Fimage\u002Fpost\u002F2026\u002F05\u002F21\u002F46oFPqGWJm06rU6s2uTTHLyC7yMObCrsuUZ3oG4z.webp",[62],{"id":20,"name":63,"avatarPath":8,"about":8},"Halima Makame",[65,77],{"id":66,"type":67,"data":71,"order":76},43,{"title":68,"value":69,"shortName":70},"Gallery",7,"GALLERY",{"gallery":72},[73],{"fileId":74,"filePath":75,"title":8},42,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.the-port-brief.co.tz\u002Fimage\u002Fpost_section\u002F2026\u002F05\u002F21\u002FYaFszV3Nys8Hj69CDb5H0luj0MAs2V4oqmNQedAR.webp",0,{"id":78,"type":79,"data":82,"order":13},44,{"title":80,"value":13,"shortName":81},"Text editor","TEXT_EDITOR",{"content":83,"additionalAlignment":84},"\u003Cp>Business groups and tax experts have raised the alarm, warning that the changes could lead to arbitrary enforcement and retrospective tax claims that would disrupt business operations. The main problem is the expansion of powers to combat tax evasion, which will allow the Commissioner for Human Rights to invalidate or reclassify transactions that are believed to have been structured primarily for the purpose of obtaining tax benefits. Legal experts from Bowmans warn that such broad discretion could allow KRA to reopen and rethink past deals, as the bill provides for a five-year review period.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>In addition, the bill aims to strengthen KRA's control over taxpayers' data by allowing the commissioner to compile pre-filled tax returns using electronic monitoring systems. The consultants argue that this effectively shifts the burden of proof to taxpayers, who may be forced to challenge the estimates prepared by KRA while law enforcement actions continue. The bill also provides for serious penalties for non-compliance with the requirements for electronic tax systems, fines can reach double the amount of tax or 100,000 KSh, whichever is greater. Bowmans warns that even minor technical failures can lead to devastating financial consequences for small businesses.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Although the bill does not explicitly use the term «asset freeze», legal experts note that the proposed powers strengthen KRA's ability to seek payment of disputed taxes through agency notifications and restrictions on bank accounts pending the completion of court appeals. Finance Minister John Mbadi defended the measures, saying they were necessary to improve compliance and reduce reliance on borrowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>However, analysts warn that these aggressive measures, combined with stricter deadlines for filing documents, such as reducing the deadline for filing a tax return from six to four months, could undermine investor confidence. As manufacturers and small businesses face high energy costs and weak demand, the Finance Bill of 2026 suggests that tax disputes in Kenya will become more frequent, expensive and difficult to resolve.\u003C\u002Fp>",{"title":85,"value":86},"Align Left","left",[88,91,95],{"id":69,"title":89,"alias":90,"is_current":11},"Republic of Kenya","republic-of-kenya",{"id":92,"title":93,"alias":94,"is_current":11},13,"Economy","economy",{"id":96,"title":97,"alias":98,"is_current":11},20,"Legislation","legislation",[],[101],{"id":13,"title":14,"fullTitle":15,"description":16,"icon":8,"alias":17,"color":18,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},[103],{"id":26,"title":38,"alias":39},[],{"id":106,"title":107,"slug":108},26,"Tanzania and Rwanda sign energy cooperation agreement covering trade in electricity, oil, gas and LNG","tanzania-and-rwanda-sign-energy-cooperation-agreement-covering-trade-in-electricity-oil-gas-and-lng",true,399,[112,138,163,184,207,227],{"id":113,"title":114,"alias":115,"description":116,"publishedAt":117,"previewImage":118,"views":119,"tags":120,"categories":134,"countryCategories":136,"relatedPosts":-1},82,"The impact of the US-Iran agreement on fuel prices in East Africa","the-impact-of-the-us-iran-agreement-on-fuel-prices-in-east-africa","\u003Cp>The recent peace agreement between the United States and Iran has brought a new wave of optimism to global oil markets, which will directly affect the cost of fuel in Kenya. Here, households and transportation companies face high energy costs.\u003C\u002Fp>","20-06-2026 15:30","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.the-port-brief.co.tz\u002Fimage\u002Fpost\u002F2026\u002F06\u002F18\u002Fg9CtoAE6hFPI6aoTubSlE3nZkMYJHzPxdpZL11qW.webp",419,[121,122,126,130],{"id":69,"title":89,"alias":90,"is_current":11},{"id":123,"title":124,"alias":125,"is_current":11},36,"Safety","safety",{"id":127,"title":128,"alias":129,"is_current":11},39,"Mineral resources","mineral-resources",{"id":131,"title":132,"alias":133,"is_current":11},47,"Regional development","regional-development",[135],{"id":5,"title":6,"fullTitle":6,"description":7,"icon":8,"alias":9,"color":10,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},[137],{"id":26,"title":38,"alias":39},{"id":139,"title":140,"alias":141,"description":142,"publishedAt":143,"previewImage":144,"views":145,"tags":146,"categories":159,"countryCategories":161,"relatedPosts":-1},81,"DR Congo Geological Survey launches ambitious research program","dr-congo-geological-survey-launches-ambitious-research-program","\u003Cp>Head of the National Geological Survey of the Congo Raul Vasenga Vitima presented large-scale geological projects that are currently funded by the State of the Congo. These initiatives aim to identify new mineral deposits that will help support the global transition to sustainable energy sources while providing jobs for local residents.\u003C\u002Fp>","20-06-2026 11:30","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.the-port-brief.co.tz\u002Fimage\u002Fpost\u002F2026\u002F06\u002F18\u002Ft60pasHscPNnKa6onXxD1xFWjTm91N83ibWWFkw0.webp",455,[147,151,154,155],{"id":148,"title":149,"alias":150,"is_current":11},9,"Democratic Republic of the Congo","democratic-republic-of-the-congo",{"id":13,"title":152,"alias":153,"is_current":11},"Climate Resilience","climate-resilience",{"id":131,"title":132,"alias":133,"is_current":11},{"id":156,"title":157,"alias":158,"is_current":11},27,"Energy industries","energy-industries",[160],{"id":20,"title":21,"fullTitle":22,"description":23,"icon":8,"alias":24,"color":10,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},[162],{"id":31,"title":51,"alias":52},{"id":164,"title":165,"alias":166,"description":167,"publishedAt":168,"previewImage":169,"views":170,"tags":171,"categories":180,"countryCategories":182,"relatedPosts":-1},80,"Rhino Ark demands to stop the construction of an airstrip in the forest","rhino-ark-demands-to-stop-the-construction-of-an-airstrip-in-the-forest","\u003Cp>The Rhino Ark Kenya charitable organization has expressed disagreement with the ongoing construction of an airstrip inside the Upper Imenti Forest Reserve and appealed to the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEMA) to immediately stop all work until all environmental regulations are fully complied with and public discussions are held.\u003C\u002Fp>","19-06-2026 15:30","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.the-port-brief.co.tz\u002Fimage\u002Fpost\u002F2026\u002F06\u002F18\u002FHQrlkymdOFaUAnux4zGpxp026Wtt8gona8h1Nv2D.webp",494,[172,173,176],{"id":69,"title":89,"alias":90,"is_current":11},{"id":55,"title":174,"alias":175,"is_current":11},"Infrastructure projects","infrastructure-projects",{"id":177,"title":178,"alias":179,"is_current":11},31,"Environmental policy","environmental-policy",[181],{"id":20,"title":21,"fullTitle":22,"description":23,"icon":8,"alias":24,"color":10,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},[183],{"id":26,"title":38,"alias":39},{"id":185,"title":186,"alias":187,"description":188,"publishedAt":189,"previewImage":190,"views":191,"tags":192,"categories":203,"countryCategories":205,"relatedPosts":-1},79,"Kenya and the UAE are building Africa's digital future","kenya-and-the-uae-are-building-africas-digital-future","\u003Cp>The recently concluded AI Everything Kenya x GITEX Kenya forum, held in Nairobi, brought together over 15,000 participants, which confirmed that the achievements of Kenya and Africa in the field of artificial intelligence and digital technologies are already part of today, and not a distant prospect.\u003C\u002Fp>","19-06-2026 11:30","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.the-port-brief.co.tz\u002Fimage\u002Fpost\u002F2026\u002F06\u002F18\u002Fw6AHwwU3YGy0v7XtmnvBpwSOIvxNkHI5VP7eYiUo.webp",366,[193,194,198,202],{"id":69,"title":89,"alias":90,"is_current":11},{"id":195,"title":196,"alias":197,"is_current":11},35,"Information security","information-security",{"id":199,"title":200,"alias":201,"is_current":11},34,"Digitalization","digitalization",{"id":131,"title":132,"alias":133,"is_current":11},[204],{"id":31,"title":32,"fullTitle":32,"description":33,"icon":8,"alias":34,"color":35,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},[206],{"id":26,"title":38,"alias":39},{"id":208,"title":209,"alias":210,"description":211,"publishedAt":212,"previewImage":213,"views":214,"tags":215,"categories":224,"countryCategories":226,"relatedPosts":-1},78,"The global monetary order is entering a period of historical transition","the-global-monetary-order-is-entering-a-period-of-historical-transition","\u003Cp>An imperceptible revolution is taking place at the heart of the global financial system. Countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America are actively working to reduce their dependence on the traditional dollar-based financial structure. This could lead to one of the most significant transformations of the international monetary system since the collapse of the Bretton Woods Agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>","18-06-2026 15:30","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.the-port-brief.co.tz\u002Fimage\u002Fpost\u002F2026\u002F06\u002F18\u002Fb8QAhBmwzGd0mfnwPOB5U5irmzj46kl0n4VquhKF.webp",367,[216,217,218,221],{"id":92,"title":93,"alias":94,"is_current":11},{"id":131,"title":132,"alias":133,"is_current":11},{"id":26,"title":219,"alias":220,"is_current":11},"Investment","investment",{"id":20,"title":222,"alias":223,"is_current":11},"Partners","partners",[225],{"id":13,"title":14,"fullTitle":15,"description":16,"icon":8,"alias":17,"color":18,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},[],{"id":228,"title":229,"alias":230,"description":231,"publishedAt":232,"previewImage":233,"views":234,"tags":235,"categories":240,"countryCategories":242,"relatedPosts":-1},77,"NEMA has ordered two facilities in Nairobi to comply with environmental regulations","nema-has-ordered-two-facilities-in-nairobi-to-comply-with-environmental-regulations","\u003Cp>The National Environmental Protection Agency (NEMA) has sent notices of improvement to two facilities in the Nairobi and Kaiole industrial zones following scheduled inspections.\u003C\u002Fp>","18-06-2026 11:30","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.the-port-brief.co.tz\u002Fimage\u002Fpost\u002F2026\u002F06\u002F15\u002FK9mhn1OWAnjWprBfQ6a58KFipjDVgnV1Pu5XHf0O.webp",430,[236,237,238,239],{"id":177,"title":178,"alias":179,"is_current":11},{"id":55,"title":174,"alias":175,"is_current":11},{"id":131,"title":132,"alias":133,"is_current":11},{"id":92,"title":93,"alias":94,"is_current":11},[241],{"id":5,"title":6,"fullTitle":6,"description":7,"icon":8,"alias":9,"color":10,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},[243],{"id":26,"title":38,"alias":39},[245,264,284],{"id":246,"title":247,"alias":248,"description":249,"publishedAt":250,"previewImage":251,"views":252,"tags":253,"categories":260,"countryCategories":263,"relatedPosts":-1},55,"The 46th Summit of the Southern African Development Community will be held in August 2026","the-46th-summit-of-the-southern-african-development-community-will-be-held-in-august-2026","\u003Cp>The 46th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) will be held in South Africa (Durban) from 16 to 17 August 2026. The summit will mark the beginning of South Africa's twelve-month chairmanship of the regional economic community.\u003C\u002Fp>","05-06-2026 11:10","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.the-port-brief.co.tz\u002Fimage\u002Fpost\u002F2026\u002F06\u002F03\u002F836QaNvdFIAQx8EDA37jDql1Fl9QvYWzaAKeSwxi.webp",195,[254,255,256],{"id":20,"title":222,"alias":223,"is_current":11},{"id":92,"title":93,"alias":94,"is_current":11},{"id":257,"title":258,"alias":259,"is_current":11},15,"Communication","communication",[261,262],{"id":13,"title":14,"fullTitle":15,"description":16,"icon":8,"alias":17,"color":18,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},{"id":20,"title":21,"fullTitle":22,"description":23,"icon":8,"alias":24,"color":10,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},[],{"id":265,"title":266,"alias":267,"description":268,"publishedAt":269,"previewImage":270,"views":271,"tags":272,"categories":279,"countryCategories":282,"relatedPosts":-1},45,"KNCCI warns that the tobacco bill could harm businesses and promote illegal trade","kncci-warns-that-the-tobacco-bill-could-harm-businesses-and-promote-illegal-trade","\u003Cp>The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) has officially expressed concern over the proposed amendment to the Tobacco Control Bill, 2024. While the House supports the government's public health goals, it warns that the bill in its current form establishes overly restrictive and duplicative rules that could create problems for legitimate businesses, especially micro, small and medium-sized businesses.\u003C\u002Fp>","01-06-2026 15:30","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.the-port-brief.co.tz\u002Fimage\u002Fpost\u002F2026\u002F05\u002F28\u002FtNsyyQyIxodGlP0ocuwPFGEu0lVgoJGuVFKkQUcM.webp",428,[273,277,278],{"id":274,"title":275,"alias":276,"is_current":11},33,"Healthcare","healthcare",{"id":96,"title":97,"alias":98,"is_current":11},{"id":92,"title":93,"alias":94,"is_current":11},[280,281],{"id":20,"title":21,"fullTitle":22,"description":23,"icon":8,"alias":24,"color":10,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},{"id":26,"title":27,"fullTitle":27,"description":28,"icon":8,"alias":29,"color":10,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},[283],{"id":26,"title":38,"alias":39},{"id":285,"title":286,"alias":287,"description":288,"publishedAt":289,"previewImage":290,"views":291,"tags":292,"categories":302,"countryCategories":304,"relatedPosts":-1},32,"Epra promotes biofuel blending technology to reduce fuel imports and boost local industry","epra-promotes-biofuel-blending-technology-to-reduce-fuel-imports-and-boost-local-industry","\u003Cp>The Energy and Petroleum Products Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has announced the launch of a biofuel blend initiative. The aim of the program is to ease Kenya's dependence on foreign fuel supplies and to level the prices at gas stations amid the protracted crisis in the Middle East.\u003C\u002Fp>","26-05-2026 11:30","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.the-port-brief.co.tz\u002Fimage\u002Fpost\u002F2026\u002F05\u002F25\u002FLeMcivE1GKqUGXBom4FkFHKzbylhMg3QVfmCubUN.webp",724,[293,294,298],{"id":69,"title":89,"alias":90,"is_current":11},{"id":295,"title":296,"alias":297,"is_current":11},29,"Energy resources","energy-resources",{"id":299,"title":300,"alias":301,"is_current":11},21,"Logistics","logistics",[303],{"id":5,"title":6,"fullTitle":6,"description":7,"icon":8,"alias":9,"color":10,"isShowOnMainPage":11,"isShowOnTopMenu":11},[305],{"id":26,"title":38,"alias":39},[]]