Wattanga’s KRA Tenure Ends Ahead of Schedule, Nyawanda Takes Over Operations

Kenya Revenue Authority has ended the tenure of its Commissioner-General Humphrey Wattanga months before the expiry of his contract, placing him on terminal leave and triggering a leadership transition at a critical point in the fiscal year.

The board said it would not renew his contract, effectively cutting short a term that was due to run until August. Lilian Nyawanda, the Commissioner for Customs and Border Control, has been appointed acting head as the authority begins a search for a substantive replacement.

Leadership change lands mid revenue push

The exit comes as KRA intensifies efforts to close a revenue gap in the final quarter of the financial year. The authority had collected Sh2.038 trillion by the end of March against a target of Sh2.122 trillion, leaving a shortfall that has increased pressure on enforcement and compliance measures.

KRA is targeting Sh2.97 trillion for the full year, with the final stretch expected to carry a disproportionate share of collections.

Technology performance under scrutiny

The leadership change follows sustained internal focus on the performance of KRA’s digital infrastructure, which sits at the centre of its tax collection strategy.

Recent disruptions to systems such as the Integrated Customs Management System affected cargo clearance at key entry points, including the Port of Mombasa and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The outages drew attention to the reliability of platforms that underpin customs revenue and trade facilitation.

At the same time, KRA has expanded its use of tools such as the Electronic Tax Invoice Management System to improve real-time monitoring of transactions, particularly in value-added tax.

Enforcement drive and tax base expansion

The authority has also been pushing to widen the tax net through digital channels. New services include a WhatsApp-based filing tool powered by an artificial intelligence chatbot and USSD options aimed at taxpayers without smartphones.

These measures are designed to bring more informal sector activity into the tax system while tightening compliance among registered taxpayers.

Interim leadership faces immediate operational test

Nyawanda assumes office with a mandate centred on continuity. Her background in customs administration places her at the core of one of KRA’s most sensitive revenue streams, where import duties and trade flows remain key.

The board said a competitive recruitment process for a new Commissioner-General will begin, but in the near term the focus remains on stabilising operations, sustaining collections, and addressing system performance as the financial year closes.

Diplomatic posting follows KRA exit, pending parliamentary vetting

Within hours of his departure from Kenya Revenue Authority, William Ruto forwarded Humphrey Wattanga’s name to the National Assembly as part of a new round of foreign service nominations.

Wattanga has been proposed as Kenya’s High Commissioner to South Africa, a posting based in Pretoria that ranks among the country’s more established missions on the continent. The nomination comes alongside a broader reshuffle of diplomatic positions across key capitals.

The appointment remains subject to parliamentary vetting and approval, with the National Assembly expected to review the nomination before any formal posting is confirmed.

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