KRA To Launch TV Station

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) will on Monday, October 3 unveil an online television (TV) station.

Dubbed KRA TV, the station is envisioned to enhance tax literacy in the country through dissemination of simplified tax and Customs content.

The taxman, in a statement to newsrooms on Friday, September 30, revealed that the station is aimed at enhancing voluntary tax compliance and propelling the tax base in the country.

KRA offices at Times Tower, Nairobi CBD. /FILE 

The KRA TV platform will be hosted on the KRA website and drive a demand-based viewership. It will also host customized tax content that the public may consume at their convenience. 

"The key features on the TV will include scheduled live programming of tax awareness activities like Tax Talks, Tax Thursdays, Stori za Ushuru and other education programs. 

"The TV station will also air a wide range of simplified and downloadable content for various taxpayer categories among the many other programmes," KRA stated in part.

The TV station will be unveiled during the launch of the 2022 Taxpayers’ Month, an annual event usually organized to appreciate compliant taxpayers for their patriotic act of dutifully remitting their taxes towards the country's development agenda.

During the month, KRA will engage in various activities aimed at honouring and appreciating taxpayers. 

The activities include; taxpayer appreciation engagements, taxpayer education, tax summit event and Corporate Social Investment (CSI) activities. 

The event will be culminated by a Taxpayers Award Ceremony and Luncheon hosted in honour of distinguished taxpayers.

This year’s Taxpayers Month is themed ‘Leaving no one behind’. The theme highlights the collective role and contribution of all Kenyans towards the economic progress as a nation.

"KRA encourage the public to participate in the Taxpayers’ Month activities as an act of patriotism. Through their participation, taxpayers will have an opportunity to give feedback on various tax issues that will enable the Authority to enhance service delivery and create a more conducive environment for compliance," it added.

During his speech while officially opening the 13th Parliament on Thursday, September 29, President William Ruto proposed for the renaming of KRA to the Kenya Revenue Service (KRS).

“We will also work with the Kenya Revenue Authority on a culture change to make it a people-friendly, customer-centric organization. I am of the view that we should rename it the Kenya Revenue Service in line with the proposed transformation,” he addressed.

He vowed that his government will also propose new tax measures that will see the county move in the right direction.

The proposal to change the KRA name was first announced in April by the outgoing Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani who said that the move was meant to change the image of the authority to subsequently enhance tax compliance.

It was however rejected by Members of Parliament (MPs) in June.

The National Assembly during the official opening of the 13th Parliament on September 29, 2022. /WILLIAM RUTO