Google Kenya In Court Following KRA Hacking Claims

Google has been sued by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) following a hacking of its systems via a gmail account.

The account, wwarui@gmail.com, KRA detectives have said has been used on multiple occasions to access information that jeopardizes data of millions of taxpayers.

”The gmail account is believed to have been used to access KRA’s computer system and used to perform the task of an authorised officer, thereby infringing on the information security of the KRA,” Jillo said.

The taxman has said that the incident was reported at Railways Police Station.

On January 9, Milimani Chief Magistrate’s court ordered Google Kenya to provide Mohammed Jillo of the DCI’s KRA unit with information relating to the aforementioned email address.

But on 31 January, Justice George Odunga temporarily barred KRA detectives from investigating Google Kenya.

“The grant of leave acts as a stay of enforcement and or execution of the decision of the Milimani Magistrate court made on January 9 following a request by KRA’s DCI unit against Google Incorporation,” the judge ruled.

Google Kenya has argued that it is a separate entity from its parent company, Google LLC located in California, US.

The internet giant says it can not make available the documents as ordered by the court, as it does not have access to Google LLC’s servers, services or products.

Read: NHIF Members Will No Longer Have To Pick Outpatient Facilities

“Google Kenya Limited and Google LLC are separate limited liability companies and legal entities operating in two separate countries, carrying out different activities. Google Kenya has no capacity to comply with the order as it has no access to Google LLC servers, services and products,” it argued.

Justice Odunga will issue further orders on March 20.

Do you have a story you want told? Do you know of a sensitive story you would like us to get our hands on? Email your news TIPS to Editor@kahawatungu.com