President William Ruto has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to supporting the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) with the policies and resources needed to innovate, simplify processes, build public trust, and serve taxpayers more efficiently.
Speaking during this year’s Taxpayers’ Day celebrations held at State House, Nairobi, the President noted that KRA has made significant progress in innovation, highlighting that Kenya is among the earliest countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to integrate AI-powered risk engines into tax compliance, a development that places the nation at the frontier of modern public administration.
“The Customs Department recently recorded its highest-ever monthly customs revenue, Sh 85billion last month, following the piloting of these engines and the re-engineering of our processes. Domestic VAT collections have also strengthened, rising from Sh20 billion per month in the 2021/22 financial year to Sh28 billion today,” announced the President.
Additionally, President Ruto emphasized that KRA has been central to advancing Kenya’s economic sovereignty, noting that revenue collection has increased 21-fold, from Sh122 billion in 1995 to Sh2.57 trillion in the 2024/2025 financial year.
“The revenue collected has built our schools and hospitals, powered our infrastructure, and strengthened our sovereignty. We are steadily on track to hit the Sh3 trillion mark this financial year,” he added.
Further, the President urged all taxpayers to contribute their fair share, describing tax compliance as an act of patriotism and a vital contribution to nation-building.
“Paying taxes is not merely a legal obligation. It is an act of patriotism and solidarity, a collective commitment to the Kenya we aspire to build,” President Ruto stressed.
He maintained that taxpayers must see value for their contribution, and every public institution must operate with transparency and integrity adding that every shilling collected must deliver visible results.
In his remarks, Cabinet Secretary (CS) for the National Treasury and Economic Planning John Mbadi reiterated that revenue collection remained a central priority in financing the country’s development agenda.
He affirmed that the government would continue leveraging technology to modernize the tax framework, seal revenue leakages, and enhance overall system efficiency.
“Innovation is essential for improving the fairness and effectiveness of our tax system. Technology will also help us broaden the tax base so that every Kenyan contributes their fair share. When everyone pays something, no one feels punished, but when only a few pay taxes, even the compliant ones start looking for the exit,” implored the CS.
On his part, KRA Board Chairman Ndiritu Muriithi outlined that the Authority’s transformation agenda is anchored on transparency, innovation, and good governance.
“Guided by the 9th Corporate Plan, we are overseeing KRA’s strategic transition from an Authority to a Service, a transformation that reflects a deeper commitment to customer-centricity, accountability, and public trust,” he observed, insisting that this shift heralds a renewed culture of service, partnership, and responsiveness to the needs of every taxpayer.
Concurrently, KRA Commissioner General Humphrey Wattanga mentioned that KRA is redesigning its services around the citizens to ensure that registration, filing, payment, and customer support could be accessed conveniently, securely, and without unnecessary bureaucracy.
“Today, a Kenyan can file returns through a simple USSD code *222*5#, no smartphone needed. And because millions rely on WhatsApp daily, we have taken our services to that platform as well,” established Wattanga.
“These innovations mean something profound: we are opening virtual KRA offices in every taxpayer’s pocket,” he added.
Meanwhile, during this year’s Taxpayers Day Awards, KRA recognized various institutions and individuals for their exemplary commitment to tax compliance.
By Michael Omondi
