Ruto puts KRA staff on the spot for aiding tax evasion

President William Ruto has issued a warning to Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officials for inciting tax cheating.

After filing his tax returns, the president accused certain KRA employees of assisting tax evasion by accepting bribes.

Some KRA officials, according to the president, have been opposing government efforts to collect additional taxes.

“Collusion, wanton bribe-taking and general corruption continue to pervade the operations of KRA.We would be collecting more money than we are collecting but we have staff at KRA who don’t work for the government but for themselves and other entities.

They assist people to avoid paying tax,” the president said on Friday, May 26.

The president stated that if an audit is conducted, just a small number of employees will remain at the tax collection agency.

“If you ask Kenyans to name people who facilitate them not to pay taxes, I don’t know how many members of staff will remain at KRA,” he added.

Ruto was at Time Towers to file his annual returns ahead of the June 2023 timeline. At the event, he reiterated the importance of expanding the tax base to ease pressure on Kenyans.

He also underlined that taxes were necessary to help the government attain its development agenda.

Nonetheless, he maintained that he would ensure that public officers spend the money collected with transparency and accountability.