Treasury Approves Tax Exemption on ARVs Held By KRA

The Ministry of Health approved tax exemption on anti-retroviral drugs donated by the USAID that were being held by the government over taxes.

The ARVs which arrived in Kenya on January 18, 2021, serve Kenya's 1.5 million population who are HIV positive

KRA had given the donor with Kshh90 million import tax bill on the consignment valued at Ksh2.1 billion.

Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani confirmed the approval which he said follows a request by his Health colleague, Mutahi Kagwe.

CS Kagwe noted that at least 1.5 million Kenyans living with HIV depend on the drugs to boost their immunity.

In March this year, an acute shortage of antiretroviral drugs hit public hospitals, exposing People Living with HIV and Aids (PLWHA) to much suffering.