Ruto’s second big purge at KRA after radical changes at the DCI
President William Ruto’s administration shake up at the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) involving forceful exit of immediate former Commissioner General Githii Mburu and senior commissioners is the second biggest overhaul after the radical changes at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) that saw former DCI boss George Kinoti axed.
President Ruto has been on record publicly expressing displeasure against the two institutions which he and his lieutenants accused of weaponising the war against graft.
And upon assuming power, it was just a matter of when and not if, the Head of State would initiate the far reaching purge that has since come to fruition.
Yesterday, though the KRA board chaired by Ruto’s ally and businessman Anthony Mwaura said that the former CG opted to resign less than eight months into his new term, insiders say he was indeed forced out.
Besides Mburu, the board axed three of seven managers on the agency’s top executive team notably Lilian Nyawanda (Commissioner, of Customs and Border Control), Terra Saidimu (Commissioner, Intelligence & Strategic Operations) and David Kinuu (Commissioner, Corporate Support.
The Commissioner of Domestic Taxes Rispah Simiyu has been appointed to replace Mburu in an acting capacity.
Mburu got a fresh five-year term in June after serving his initial three-year contract that started on July 1, 2019. He exited before his tenure lapsed.
“Following the resignation, the board has appointed FCCA, CS Rispah Simiyu, Advocate EBS, to be the Acting Commissioner General KRA with effect from 23rd February, 2023 until the position is substantively and competitively filled.” Mwaura said.
In the changes, David Yego was appointed the Commissioner in charge of Intelligence, Strategic Operations, Investigation and Enforcement while Pamela Ahago has been named as the Commissioner of Domestic Taxes in an acting capacity.
David Mwangi is the new acting Commissioner of Customs and Border Patrol while Nancy Ng’etich is the acting Commissioner of Corporate Support Services.
Mohammed Omar who is the Commissioner of Strategy Innovation and Risk Management, Fred Mugambi Mwirigi, the Commissioner of Kenya School of Revenue Administration and Paul Mutuku, the Commissioner of Legal Services and Board Coordination were retained in their positions.
Mwaura was part of the core team of the Kenya Kwanza Alliance campaign team during the last year’s general elections and a close confidant of the president.
He came into the limelight in 2020 when his companies, Hardi Enterprises and Toddy Civil Engineering Company, were implicated in a City Hall scandal for allegedly receiving irregular payments amounting to Sh102 million.
Mburu’ s tenure at the helm of KRA was marked by spirited pursuit of prominent people the believed to be tax evaders.
The president has repeatedly ordered the KRA to desist from seizing the assets of suspected tax evaders and disabling businesses through forcible occupations and blockade of bank accounts.
“I have told the Commissioner-General (CG) that he must tell his people to stop and we have no choice because I do not want to fight with people but they must stop…I have given enough information to CG to sort out that mess and I have told him, if he doesn’t sort out the mess, I’ll sort it out myself.” President Ruto said during the annual taxpayers’ day on October 28.
Graft and tax cases against politicians and businesspeople allied to the Kenya Kwanza administration worth close to Sh30billion have either been withdrawn or quashed in the recent past, turning the spotlight on the prosecution and investigative agencies in the fight against graft.
