The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) dismissed 25 employees for corruption between July and September 2024, a sharp rise from seven in the same period last year. This initiative, part of a broader strategy to strengthen integrity, also saw 84 disciplinary cases addressed compared to 37 in 2023. KRA Commissioner General Humphrey Wattanga reaffirmed the authority’s “zero tolerance” policy toward corruption, emphasizing efforts to transform KRA into a world-class, accountable institution.
KRA’s anti-corruption measures include conducting lifestyle audits, recovering Sh549 million in illicit wealth during the 2023-24 financial year, and creating Corruption Prevention Committees (CPCs) to tackle malpractice within operational areas. These committees implement the Public Service Integrity Programme (PSIP) and evaluate emerging risks quarterly. Additionally, collaboration across public institutions promotes compliance and curbs tax evasion.
Technology plays a critical role in KRA’s crackdown, with the introduction of iWhistle, a web-based platform for anonymously reporting corruption and tax evasion. This tool alone recovered Sh4.22 billion in the last financial year. To encourage public participation, KRA offers informants rewards of up to five per cent of recovered taxes, capped at Sh5 million per case. These efforts align with Kenya’s broader government initiative to increase tax revenue and address a growing national debt absorbing over 65% of tax collections annually.
