The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has formally declared a vacancy for the position of Commissioner General, setting in motion a high-stakes succession process at a time when pressure to sustain revenue growth is intensifying.
- •The announcement follows the Board’s decision not to renew the contract of outgoing Commissioner General Humphrey Wattanga, who has proceeded on terminal leave and been appointed Kenya's High Commissioner to Pretoria.
- •In the interim, Lilian Nyawanda, currently Commissioner for Customs and Border Control, has been appointed Acting Commissioner General.
- •The incoming chief executive will take charge at a pivotal moment for the tax authority, as it rolls out its 9th Corporate Plan anchored on digital transformation and service-driven compliance.
The Board credited Wattanga with steering key institutional reforms, including a significant organisational restructuring drive during his tenure.
The role is central to delivering the government’s Fourth Medium Term Plan (MTP IV), with expectations extending beyond traditional tax collection to financing key national priorities, including housing, healthcare access, and support for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
KRA said the next Commissioner General will be tasked with accelerating the transition to a fully digital, data-driven tax system while maintaining efficiency in customs and domestic revenue streams.
Revenue Gains, Steeper Climb Ahead
The leadership transition comes as KRA posts solid, but incomplete, revenue performance. The authority collected KSh 2.038 trillion in the nine months to March 31, achieving 96.1% of its target of KSh 2.122 trillion and marking an 11.4% year-on-year increase. This places collections at roughly 69% of the full-year target of KSh 2.97 trillion, leaving a gap of about KSh 932 billion to be raised in the final quarter.
Customs and border control revenues outperformed expectations, rising to KSh 733.7 billion and exceeding targets, supported by higher import volumes and administrative efficiencies. Domestic taxes remained the largest contributor at KSh 1.301 trillion, reflecting steady expansion.
Macroeconomic conditions have offered mixed support, with economic growth improving to 4.9% in the third quarter of 2025, while inflation stood at 4.4% in March 2026, driven largely by food, transport and housing costs.
KRA said initiatives such as its electronic tax invoice system and expanded integration with business systems are helping to widen the tax base and strengthen compliance.
Despite the gains, the authority faces a significantly steeper collection path in the final quarter, underscoring the tension between aggressive revenue mobilisation and prevailing economic constraints.
