By Andrew Kariuki

Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has secured a legal reprieve after the Tax Appeals Tribunal ordered the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to lift agency notices that had frozen his bank accounts.

In orders issued on Friday, the Tribunal directed KRA to unfreeze several accounts held at Equity Bank Kenya Limited, allowing Sonko access to the funds pending the hearing and determination of his tax appeal.

The decision was recorded by consent of both parties and follows earlier interim orders issued on April 14, when the Tribunal certified the matter as urgent and temporarily barred KRA from enforcing the same agency notices.

At the time, enforcement actions, including the freezing of accounts, were halted ahead of an inter partes hearing scheduled for April 17.

Friday’s orders effectively extend that relief, giving Sonko temporary access to his funds as the substantive dispute proceeds before the Tribunal.

The development comes a day after the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) initiated a probe into Equity Bank over allegations that it failed to comply with a High Court order to lift restrictions on accounts linked to the former governor.

In a letter dated April 16, the regulator confirmed it had received a formal complaint accusing the bank of defying directives issued by the High Court’s Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Division in a case involving the Asset Recovery Agency and Sonko.

CBK said it has sought clarification from the bank and will issue a comprehensive response once investigations are complete.