Reports making rounds on various social media platforms insinuating that President William Ruto made changes to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) of Kenya by naming businesswoman Mary Wambui to its Board of Directors are false and misleading.
Various reports shared widely on Twitter and Facebook pages on Saturday, November 26, indicated that Wambui, one of the key individuals believed to have funded former President Uhuru Kenyatta's re-election in 2017, had been awarded by Ruto.
According to unsubstantiated reports, Wambui's appointment was to help KRA implement key policies, a claim Kenyans.co.ke found incorrect.
Social media reports further alleged that Wambui had been seconded to sit on the board despite being linked to a Ksh2.2 billion tax evasion case.
To asertcain that all allegations are false and misleading, Kenyans.co.ke cross-checked the KRA website, where the authority has listed its board members.
The board consists of public and private sector experts who make key decisions later implemented by KRA management.
KRA's board of directors is made up of a board chairperson, who is appointed by the President and seven other directors.
The current board chairperson is Anthony Mwaura, former National Elections Board chairperson of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), who took over from former Head of Civil Service and Secretary to the Cabinet, Francis Muthaura.
Through a gazette notice dated November 17, Ruto appointed Mwaura to serve for three years.
"In exercise of the powers conferred by section 6(2) (a) of the Kenya Revenue Authority Act, I, William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander in Chief of the Defence Forces appoint Anthony Ng'ang'a Mwaura to be the Chairperson of the Kenya Revenue Authority, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from the 18th November 2022," the gazette notice detailed.
Directors working with Mwaura include Charles Omanga, a former Product Manager at Citibank Kenya, Leonard Ithau, Executive Director of Quemec Limited and Sally Mahihu.
Others include Susan Mudhune, Certified Corporate Governance trainer and a Member of Women Corporate Directors (Kenya Chapter), Mukesh Shah, Director and founder of Strategic Consultants Limited, Richard Opembe, Musa Kathanje and Maryann Njau, an advocate of the High Court of Kenya.
Besides the board of directors, KRA's internal leadership hierarchy is headed by Commissioner General Githii Mburu.
Other commissioners include Rispah Simiyu, in charge of domestic taxes, Lilian Nyawanda, Commissioner in charge of customs and border control and Paul Matuku, in charge of Legal Services and Board Coordination, among others.
