Saidimu (pictured) assumed the role in an acting capacity in June following the appointment of James Gathii Mburu who held the position as the Commissioner General of KRA/FILE -KRA
NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 3 – The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has named Dr Terra Saidimu the substantive Commissioner of Intelligence and Strategic Operations.
Saidimu assumed the role in an acting capacity in June following the appointment of James Gathii Mburu who held the position as the Commissioner General of KRA.
Mburu took over from John Njiraini who was at the helm of the tax agency for two three-year terms.
His appointment comes at a time the tax agency is implementing several measures to curb tax fraud.
KRA has projected to collect Sh1.938 trillion in the 2019/2020 financial year.
Last year, the tax collector managed to gather Sh1.58 trillion missing a previously set target of Sh1.81 trillion.
In its latest attempt to expand the tax revenue bracket, KRA announced plans to impose tax on bottled water, juices, soda and other non-alcoholic beverages as well cosmetics.
A Gazette notice which would have introduced the changes was suspended over the weekend.
The move comes as KRA, which has perennially missed tax targets, moves to seal revenue leakages against the backdrop of ever higher collection targets set by the National Treasury.
Had the tax been imposed, it would have raised the cost of water and other bottled goods by between 50 cents and Sh2.80 per bottle.
According to KRA, the decision to extend the taxing of bottled drinks was aimed at giving manufactures adequate time to have the requisite infrastructure needed for the system.
“KRA informs manufacturers, importers and the public that the Go-Live of Excisable Goods Management System (EGMS) on bottled water, juices, soda, energy drinks, non-alcoholic beverages, food supplements and cosmetics that was scheduled for 1 September 2019 has been postponed to allow manufacturers to complete installation,” read the statement published in local dailies.
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