Nairobi, June 17 -- Members of Parliament have foiled fresh attempts to increase the powers of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Commissioner General, including granting the taxman sweeping powers on asset seizures.

The Finance and National Planning committee of the National Assembly has shot down amendments to the Tax Procedures Act, including one that sought to compel taxpayers to secure mandatory stay orders to protect their accounts from being frozen by the taxman.

The legislators also rejected proposals to include weekends and public holidays in computing timelines for filing tax objections and appeals.

At the same time, the committee has presented additional amendments to protect taxpayers from an all-powerful tax czar, including...