KRA Commissioner General Githii Mburu Quits

Githii Mburu has resigned as Commissioner General of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).

The KRA board revealed in a statement on Thursday, February 23 that it had received Mburu's resignation letter as he went on to pursue personal interests.

At the same time, the board announced Rispah Simiyu as Mburu's replacement.

"The Board has today received the resignation letter of the Commissioner General FCPA Githii Mburu MGH, CBS who resigned to pursue personal interests.

Githii Mburu speaking during a past KRA forum. /FILE

"Following the resignation, the Board has appointed FCCA, CS Rispah Simiyu (Mrs), Advocate, EBS to be the Acting Commissioner General KRA with effect from 23rd February 2023 until the position is substantively and competitively filled," the statement read in part.

The Board appreciated Mburu for the service he has rendered to KRA and the Republic of Kenya and wished him very well in his future endeavours.

To further enhance the revenue mobilization agenda and synergies in top management, the board also made the following changes:

1. Pamela Ahago has been appointed the Acting Commissioner of Domestic Taxes,
2. David Mwangi has been appointed as the Acting Commissioner of Customs and Border Control,
3. David Yego has been appointed the Commissioner in charge of Intelligence, Strategic Operations, Investigation and Enforcement
4. Nancy Ng'etich has been appointed Acting Commissioner of Corporate Support Services.
5. Dr Mohammed Omar remains Commissioner of Strategy Innovation and Risk Management
6. Dr Fred Mugambi Mwirigi remains Commissioner of Kenya School of Revenue Administration
7. Paul Matuku remains Commissioner of Legal Services and Board Coordination

Mburu was highly unlikely to survive in office to serve under Board Chairman Antony Mwaura who battled multiple tax cases when former President Uhur Kenyatta was in office in what President William Ruto’s faction termed as “political persecution.”

In November 2022, Mburu was appointed as the Vice Chairman of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes.

The role would see him be part of the executive whose mandate is to oversee the implementation of strategies to influence and promote cooperation among tax authorities on various responsibilities. 

Some of the functions of the executive include building capacity, enhancing the Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI), provision of Exchange of Information on Requests (EOIR) and providing technical assistance to tax administration in the fight against tax evasion. 

"The Commissioner General was appointed to hold the crucial position during the 15th Global Forum Plenary meeting held last week in Seville, Spain, where he also chaired the 12th Africa Initiative Meeting. He will serve for a period of three years, with effect from January 2023," read part of the notice. 

Mburu will serve with other members drawn from various international countries including the Global Forum Chair (France), two other Vice-Chairpersons (Italy, Japan) and other sixteen (16) members.