Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung'u has appointed Humphrey Wattanga as the new Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Commissioner General for 3 years effective August 22.
Ndung'u announced the appointment on Tuesday in a gazette notice dated Tuesday, August 22, 2023.
Wattanga is a former Vice Chairperson of the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) and held the position for a period of six years until December 2022. He is the current Managing Director of Meghraj Capital.
"The Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning appoints Humphrey Wattanga Mulongo to be the Commissioner General of Kenya Revenue Authority for a period of three years, with effect from August 22, 2023," read the notice in part.
Wattanga takes over from Risper Simiyu who has been acting since February this year following the exit of Githii Mburu who resigned from the position.
The new Commissioner General has amassed over 15 years’ global experience serving as a business development, corporate finance and transaction adviser to private equity entities, private sector companies, development finance institutions and governments.
He holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the Wharton School of Finance and a Bachelor’s Degree in Biochemistry from Harvard University, USA.
His appointment comes months after the taxman called for applications for suitable candidates to fill the position.
Simiyu has been serving in an acting capacity after Mburu left the Authority and moved on to pursue personal interests.
Mburu resigned from office before the end of his 5-year term, which was expected to end in June 2024 following the amendment of the KRA Act.
"Following the resignation, the board has appointed Rispah Simiyu (EBS), the Acting Commissioner General KRA, with effect from February 23, 2023, until the position is substantively and competitively filled," announced the authority at the time
"The Board appreciates Mr Mburu for the service he has rendered to KRA and the Republic of Kenya and wishes him very well in his future endeavours."
Wattanga takes over the role at a time the taxman is under pressure to expand the tax base and increase revenue collection to fund government operations.
As of April 2023, the authority had collected 95.1 percent of its original target and 93.4 percent of it supplementary target
