The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has relaunched its bid to take up a space in the troubled Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) mall in Kisumu City.
The KRA had recently dropped the bid to occupy a part of the mall which remains largely empty courtesy of ongoing investigations about possible graft deals in its construction.
LBDA Managing Director Raymond Omollo has confirmed that talks have been kicked off afresh between the two entities, saying that a contract will soon be signed to let the authority proceed.
"I can ascertain that we have resumed talks with KRA after they reaffirmed their commitment to move into the mall and we’ll be signing a contract soon,” he told the Nation, Tuesday.
Three weeks ago, the taxman through its Western Kenya regional office expressed disinterest in the mall citing procurement malpractice.
Earlier, a similar move had been made by the Tusky's Supermarket, which was also keen on taking up as space within the mall, the biggest in Western Kenya region.
LBDA chair Odoyo Owidi said that the entry of KRA will see the mall, which is currently grappling with low tenancy since its completion five years ago, attract more tenants.
Thw mall remains at the center of a storm, following claims that persons in charge of its construction might have engaged in corruption, resulting in Sh2.5 billion cost inflation.
Among those implicated in the scandal is embattled Kisumu County Assembly Speaker Onyango Oloo, who was last week arraigned in court and is in the process of being impeached.