19 KRA staff sacked over graft cases in second quarter of 2024/25
According to KRA, the lifestyle audits introduced among its staff have proved to be effective in identifying illicit wealth among staff
At least 19 Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) were dismissed due to issues related to integrity in Q2 of the 2024/25 compared to nine in the first quarter in the 2023/24.
Over the same period, the number of staff cleared of allegations or cleared reduced remarkably to eight cases, compared to 23 in the previous financial year. The number of individuals who received warnings declined to two in Q2 2024/25 compared to 15 cases reported in Q1 of 2023/2024.
According to KRA, the number of staff who received warnings rose to seven cases, up from two, demonstrating KRA’s zero-tolerance policy towards corruption.
This renewed focus is supported by the introduction of a series of robust measures aimed at upholding integrity, ensuring accountability, and restoring public confidence in the tax administration system.
However, the number of cases placed under the benefit of doubt category increased to five cases from two recorded in 2023/24 – reflecting a more lenient approach in certain circumstances, while the number of caution cases remained steady at two.
KRA has harnessed technology to further seal revenue leakages. One key innovation is the launch of iWhistle, a web-based platform that enables the public to report corruption and tax evasion anonymously.
KRA has incentivised the reporting of tax malpractices in a bid to encourage the public to report corruption cases. In order to incentivise people to report graft incidents, KRA has introduced a reward scheme offering informers 5 per cent of the tax recovered, with a maximum payout of Ksh5 million per case.
It has established an Integrity Award Framework to recognise and celebrate staff who demonstrate exceptional support for promoting integrity within the organization.
According to KRA, the lifestyle audits introduced among its staff have proved to be effective in identifying illicit wealth among staff. In the period under review, six lifestyle audits were conducted, and 117 staff members underwent the vetting process.
Other key anti-corruption measures include profiling tax evaders and adopting a whole of government approach, promoting collaboration among public institutions to enhance compliance and curb tax evasion.
KRA has also embraced system reviews as a preventive and detective tool against corruption. This complements the provisions of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, 2003, in examining public bodies’ systems.
The review process leads to the revision of work procedures, policies, practices, and systems to minimize corruption opportunities.
To promote a corruption-free culture, KRA has intensified its efforts to create regular integrity awareness among its staff, taking into account anti-corruption policies and bribery risk assessments in all areas of operation. The Authority also conducts anti-corruption sensitizations for its external stakeholders.
KRA reiterates its firm commitment to ensuring a corruption-free tax administration system that promotes accountability, transparency, and public trust.
