Njiraini retained as KRA Commissioner General

Kenya Revenue Authority commissioner-general John Njiraini. PHOTO | FILE 

By PIUS MAUNDU

In Summary

• Mr Njiraini was appointed to KRA in 2002 by President Uhuru Kenyatta, the then Minister of Finance.

Kenya Revenue Authority has retained John Njiraini as its Commissioner General.

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

Mr Njiraini was appointed to KRA in 2012 by President Uhuru Kenyatta, the 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.

READ: KRA to collect Sh1.2 trillion in the next fiscal year

Mr Njiraini is credited for 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 KRA’s revenue enhancement and service delivery drive,” read the statement.