KRA Dismisses 19 Employees in Crackdown on Corruption
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has fired 19 employees between October and December 2024 as part of an intensified effort to root out corruption from the tax body.
This action was taken in the second quarter of the 2024/2025 financial year and is part of a broader initiative to uphold integrity within the authority.
A detailed report released by KRA outlined the various steps taken to combat graft and strengthen accountability.
The latest dismissals represent a sharp rise compared to the same period in the previous financial year, where only nine employees were dismissed.
Stricter Measures to Curb Corruption
KRA emphasized that the move signals a firm commitment to eliminating corruption and maintaining transparency.
The authority also recorded a significant drop in staff warnings, which fell from 15 cases in the second quarter of the 2023/2024 financial year to just two cases in the same period this year.
Additionally, fewer employees were cleared of allegations, with only eight cases recorded, down from 23 in the previous year.
While overall staff warnings decreased, the number of stern warnings issued to employees increased from two to seven.
KRA explained that this shift reflects its “zero-tolerance policy” on corruption, ensuring that misconduct cases such as fraud, dishonesty, negligence, absenteeism, impersonation, and conflicts of interest are dealt with firmly.
Technology and Whistleblowing Boost Integrity
To enhance professionalism and accountability, KRA has been leveraging technology, particularly the iWhistle platform—an anonymous, web-based system that allows the public to report corruption and tax evasion.
As a result of this initiative, KRA revealed that tax estimates from corruption-related reports reached KSh 4.39 billion in the 2024/2025 financial year.
The authority received 246 reports of corruption, highlighting the effectiveness of whistleblower-driven intelligence in detecting and addressing fraudulent activities.
KRA has also been incentivizing whistleblowing by offering informants 5% of the recovered tax.
This strategy, coupled with the authority’s collaboration with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), has strengthened efforts to clamp down on tax evasion and internal fraud.
Lifestyle Audits to Detect Unexplained Wealth
In addition to dismissals and stricter disciplinary actions, KRA has been conducting lifestyle audits to identify employees with unexplained wealth.
In the most recent audits, 117 staff members underwent vetting to ensure they were not benefiting from illicit gains.
Speaking on the renewed anti-corruption drive, KRA Commissioner General Humphrey Wattanga reiterated the authority’s resolve to crack down on those misusing its systems.
“We cannot afford to turn a blind eye to those who exploit loopholes for personal gain. We are putting in place a strong framework that not only discourages tax evasion but also imposes tough penalties on those involved,” Wattanga stated.
The latest measures reflect KRA’s growing determination to uphold integrity, eliminate corruption, and restore public trust in the country’s tax system.
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