The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) dismissed 19 staff members in the second quarter of the financial year 2024/2025 (October–December), compared to nine dismissals during the same period in the 2023/2024 financial year.
- •The taxman says it received 246 corruption reports, through iWhistle, with tax estimates totaling KSh 4.39 billion.
- • iWhistle is a web-based platform that enables the public to report corruption and tax evasion anonymously.
- •KRA said it conducted six lifestyle audits between October-December, and 117 staff members underwent the vetting process.
The number of staff cleared of charges or allegations dropped significantly to eight cases, compared to 23 in the previous financial year.
Staff warnings saw a sharp decline, from 15 cases in Q2 of FY 2023/2024 to 2, signaling a shift away from milder corrective actions. At the same time, stern warnings rose to 7 cases, up from 2. The reported cases include dishonesty, lack of integrity, fraud, negligence of duty, absenteeism, conflict of interest, impersonation, and other ethical breaches.
KRA Commissioner General Humphrey Wattanga on Wednesday held a strategic meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Abdi Mohamud, towards strengthening cooperation and synergy between the two agencies in the fight against corruption, money laundering, tax fraud, and tax evasion in Kenya.
During the meeting, the two agreed on leveraging synergies to improve intelligence sharing, conduct joint investigations, and develop complementary strategies to effectively tackle the challenges posed by corruption, tax fraud, and evasion.
“We cannot afford to turn a blind eye to those who abuse our systems,” said Commissioner General Humphrey Wattanga. “Our collaboration with EACC is not just strategic; it is a moral imperative. We will establish a robust framework that not only deters tax evasion but also imposes strict penalties on those who facilitate such evasion, ensuring accountability for their actions.”
EACC CEO Abdi Mohamud underscored the critical role that KRA plays in the national economy, emphasizing the need to mitigate the threats that corruption poses to effective revenue administration.
“This collaboration is crucial in expanding our efforts to eradicate corruption and uphold the rule of law. Together, we can foster an environment that discourages corrupt practices, tax evasion, and promotes ethical business conduct,” Mohamud said.
