John Njiraini retained as Kenya Revenue Authority Commissioner General

Kenya Revenue Authority Commissioner-General John Njiraini. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The appointment follows the expiry of Mr Njiraini’s first term.
  • Mr Njiraini was appointed to KRA in 2002 by Uhuru Kenyatta, the then Minister of Finance.

The Kenya Revenue Authority has retained John Karimi Njiraini as its commissioner-general.

The appointment follows the expiry on Tuesday of Mr Njiraini’s first term — touted as resourceful — at the helm of the tax agency.

He will continue steering KRA for the next three years starting Wednesday.

“I am pleased to announce that upon recommendation of the Board of Directors, the Cabinet Secretary to the National Treasury has approved the re-appointment of Mr John Karimi Njiraini, MBS as the Commissioner General of Kenya Revenue Authority for a period of three (3) years with effect from 4th March 2015,” a statement by KRA Board of Directors chairman Marsden Madoka read.

HIGH TAX COLLECTION

Mr Njiraini was appointed to KRA in 2002 by President Uhuru Kenyatta, who was then minister of Finance.

According to Mr Madoka, the commissioner-general steered the agency to an all-time high tax collection.

In the 2011/2012 financial year, KRA collected Sh707.3 billion in taxes.

This increased to Sh963.8 billion in the 2013/2014 financial year, according to the statement by the directors.

Mr Njiraini is credited with rolling out technology and legal interventions to enhance tax compliance.

These interventions led to a reduction in the cost of collecting taxes, said Mr Madoka.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors of Kenya Revenue Authority, I wish Mr Njiraini success as he embarks on delivering the next phase (of) KRA’s revenue enhancement and service delivery drive,” read the statement.