Ayub Savula Angatia is a Kenyan businessman and politician. He is the incumbent Member of Parliament for Lugari Constituency in Kakamega County.
He was elected to the National Assembly during the August 8, 2017, general election on an Amani National Congress (ANC) party ticket.
Background and education
Savula attended Manyonyi Primary School where he sat for his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) in 1989.
He joined Lumakanda Boys Secondary School in 1990 and later transferred to Vihiga High School where he sat for his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams.
In 2001, Savula joined the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication and graduated with a Diploma in Journalism.
In 2010, he graduated from Moi University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication and Public Relations.
He enrolled back at Moi University the same year and later graduated with a Master of Philosophy in Communication.
During the burial of Mama Hannah Mudavadi on January 7, 2021, Savula expressed his gratitude to ANC Leader Musalia Mudavadi for educating him.
“Musalia Mudavadi educated me. He paid my entire school fees when I was at the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication,” Savula stated.
Career
Between 1998 and 2007, Savula worked for Mombasa Road based Standard Media Group Limited as a regional news editor.
He worked for one year between 2007 and 2008 as the Managing Director at Cross Continental Venture Limited.
In 2008, Savula founded Express Media Group which he is the managing director to date.
Politics
Savula was first elected Lugari MP in 2013 on a United Democratic Forum Party (UDF) ticket, and retained his seat in 2017 on an ANC ticket.
Houses
The Lugari MP lives in Runda but also has another house in Karen.
Scandals
On July 8, 2021, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) sought to collect Ksh473 million from a publication owned by Savula over claims of unpaid taxes accrued over a period of four years.
According to the taxman, Sunday Publishers, had secured contracts between 2013 and 2017 but failed to remit taxes.
Savula had moved to court to have KRA barred from seizing his assets over the deficits as directed by the Tax Appeal Tribunal.
The Lugari MP told the court that he had paid Ksh3 million and will pay an additional Ksh3 million to KRA. He said that the company was forced to shut down after facing numerous legal suits.
High Court Judge Justice David Majanja, however, ordered Savula to get a bank guarantee of Ksh10 million within the next 45 days in order to prevent KRA from seizing his assets.
“In any case, I find that the security of Ksh3 million being proposed by the appellant (Savula) insufficient and too low considering the tax liability at stake.
“Security of Ksh 10 million in the form of a bank guarantee from a reputable bank would be the most appropriate taking into account the circumstances of the case,” Justice Majanja ruled.
