Ruto Hands Humphrey Wattanga New Diplomatic Role After KRA Exit
Former Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Commissioner General Humphrey Wattanga has quickly secured a new government assignment, only hours after officially leaving the tax agency.
President William Ruto has nominated him to serve as Kenya’s High Commissioner to Pretoria, South Africa, in one of the latest changes made within the country’s foreign service.
Wattanga’s move to the diplomatic service came immediately after the end of his tenure at KRA, where the board chose not to renew his contract. His new nomination was included in a presidential notice released on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, under Notification of Presidential Action No. VIII of 2026.
The notice outlined several fresh nominations and redeployments across Kenya’s missions abroad as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s international presence and improve diplomatic engagement with key global partners.
According to the Head of State, the latest appointments are part of the normal succession cycle within Kenya’s foreign missions.
The government said the changes are meant to ensure smooth transitions in leadership while also expanding Kenya’s diplomatic footprint in strategic capitals around the world.
Wattanga’s posting to Pretoria is viewed as one of the most notable moves in the reshuffle, considering South Africa remains one of Kenya’s most important diplomatic and trade partners on the continent.
The foreign service changes also saw Dr. Julius Murori Mbijiwe nominated as Kenya’s Ambassador to the Vatican. At the same time, Irene Maswan was selected to serve in London, United Kingdom, while Judy Muthoni Njau was nominated to represent Kenya in Brussels, Belgium, as well as the European Union mission.
These appointments reflect a broader strategy by President Ruto’s administration to place experienced public servants in key diplomatic stations that are crucial for trade, bilateral relations, and international cooperation.
In a statement signed by Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, the government confirmed that all the nominations have already been forwarded to the National Assembly for vetting and approval, as required under the Constitution.
The parliamentary process will now determine whether the nominees officially take up their new assignments abroad.
The diplomatic reshuffle came shortly after KRA formally announced Wattanga’s departure, bringing his leadership at the tax authority to a close.
In its communication, the KRA board thanked him for his service and praised the role he played in driving institutional reforms, restructuring efforts, and broader revenue administration changes during his time in office.
His leadership period was also marked by efforts to modernize systems and strengthen compliance within the authority.
Following his exit, KRA moved quickly to ensure continuity by naming Lilian Nyawanda as Acting Commissioner General.
Nyawanda, who previously served as Commissioner for Customs and Border Control, is now expected to guide the institution on an interim basis as the board begins the process of recruiting a substantive Commissioner General.
Her immediate task will be to maintain stability at the authority while safeguarding its core revenue collection mandate.
Wattanga first took over leadership of KRA in August 2023 on a three-year contract.
His transition from tax administration to diplomacy now signals President Ruto’s wider strategy of redeploying senior public officials into roles that align with Kenya’s evolving governance and foreign policy priorities.
His experience in finance, taxation, and institutional leadership could also prove valuable in deepening Kenya’s economic and diplomatic relations with South Africa and the wider southern Africa region.
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