Kenyan President (left ) In Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta and USA Head of State Bedan . Kenyan head of State awarded tax payers . PHOTO / CORRESPONDENT
By Donald Kogai
President Uhuru Kenyatta has lauded the
Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) for
sustaining good revenue performance over
the years.
Speaking during this year’s KRA Tax
Payers Day, the President also thanked
compliant taxpayers for their
indomitable spirit of resilience despite
the pressures that existed in the past
year.
“I note with appreciation that over my
term in office ordinary revenue has more
than doubled, rising from Ksh.707
billion in FY 2011/12, to Ksh 1.669
trillion in FY 2020/21. This represents
a growth of 136%,” President Kenyatta
said.
“What is even more encouraging is to
note that at Ksh.1.669 trillion in FY
2020/21, KRA defied all odds and
surpassed its target with a surplus of
Ksh 16.8billion; representing a revenue
growth of 3.9% compared with the
previous Financial Year. This growth in
revenue collection was achieved
notwithstanding the challenges brought
about by the COVID-19 Pandemic and the
resultant economic truncation that arose
from the containment measures, which
we, as a Government, put in place.”
The National Treasury Cabinet Secretary
HonUkur Yatani in his remarks called for
the nation to reflect on innovative
ways of revolutionizing tax
administration. He noted the evolving
taxation landscape in the country,
that’s critical for sustainable economic
recovery.
“This Year’s theme of “Pamoja Twaweza”
resonates well with your strategic
direction of Agenda Four and our
Economic Recovery Strategy for
reposition Kenya on a sustainable and
inclusive economic growth path,” CS
Yatani said.
Despite the adverse impact of the
pandemic on the economy, KRA has
continued to mobilise revenue sustaining
a positive trajectory. In the last
three months, revenue performance has
surpassed the target by Kshs. 16.7
billion translating to annual revenue
growth of 26.8 percent.
Following the relaxation of the Covid-19
containment measures, there have been
positive signs of economic recovery and
expectations.
“The good revenue performance is a
reflection of improving the macro-
economic environment, relaxation of
Covid-19 containment measures, and
sustained implementation of enhanced
compliance efforts by the Authority,”
KRA Commissioner General Githii Mburu
said.
The President also called on taxpayers
to take advantage of the Voluntary Tax
Disclosure Programme (VTDP) to
regularise their tax challenges.
“I urge all of you to take advantage of
the ongoing Voluntary Tax Disclosure
Programme and benefit from the full
waiver of interests and penalties. To
date over 393 taxpayers have complied.
Through this initiative, almost Ksh 2
billion have been collected, and of the
393, none is complaining of unfair
treatment or victimisation by the Kenya
Revenue Authority,” President Kenyatta
added.
On his part, KRA Board Chairman Amb.
Muthaura revealed that KRA is in the
process of rebranding from Kenya Revenue
Authority to Kenya Revenue Services in
line with its expanded mandate as a
facilitator of businesses. Under the KRA
8th Corporate Plan, KRA aspires to
collect over 6 trillion in the period
2021- 2024; this target is premised on
the principles of the plan which are
among others revenue simplification, use
of technology and capacity building of
KRA staff.
“We value our taxpayers very much and we
are happy to be extending services to
them. We don’t want to be collecting
using a hammer, we want to collect taxes
through facilitation,” Amb. Muthaura
KRA remains committed to enhancing the
taxpaying experience and encourages
taxpayers to meet their tax obligations
through filing and paying their fair
share of taxes.
Below is a list of the winners:
TAXPAYER AWARDS 2021 WINNERS
TAXPAYER
CATEGORY
1
Safaricom
Top Payer – Large Taxpayers
2
De Ruiter East Africa Limited
Top Payer – South Rift Valley
Region
3
Busia Sugar Industry Limited
Top Payer – Western Region
4
Diocese of Marsabit Registered Trustees
Top Payer – Northern Region
5
The Noble Sacco Limited
Top Payer – North Rift Valley Region
6
Diani Estate Limited
Top Payer – Southern Region
7
Consolata Hospital Nyeri
Top Payer – Central Region
8
Premier Credit Limited
Top Taxpayer – Medium
9
Living Goods Limited
Yield – Small
10
Kenya Defence Forces
Most Facilitative Government Agency in
Tax Enforcement and recovery
11
UDV (Kenya) Limited
Top Importer
12
James Finlay Mombasa Limited
Top Exporter
13
Kenya Trade Network Agency
Most Facilitative Customs Taxpayers
14
Evergreen Logistics Co. Limited
Top Importer- at KRC (Boma Line)
INMATE JOHN WALUKE DENIED PERMISSION TO TRAVEL
KENYAN FILM MAKERS AND POETS AWARDED BY IGAD 
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.