Why ex-KRA boss Wattanga was sacked in high-stakes leadership shake-up
His management style was termed as “dismal” given that he did not hold meetings with senior management and staff members
Kenya Revenue Authority (Kenya Revenue Authority) Commissioner-General Humphrey Wattanga has been ousted from office after a turbulent exit marked by pressure from the National Treasury and disagreements over his leadership style and performance.
According to multiple sources, Wattanga was asked by President William Ruto to submit his resignation before the decision to send him on terminal leave was formalised by the KRA Board.
However, according to impeccable insiders’ privy with the goings-on, the ex-taxman boss initially resisted calls to step aside, prompting the board to move decisively to end his tenure ahead of schedule.
His management style was termed as “dismal” given that he did not hold meetings with senior management and staff members.
In a statement on Wednesday, KRA Board Chair Ndiritu Muriithi confirmed that Wattanga would proceed on terminal leave effective immediately, effectively cutting short his term as Commissioner-General. He noted that the board had initiated a transition process to ensure continuity in revenue collection operations.
The board appointed Customs and Border Control Commissioner Dr Lilian Nyawanda as acting Commissioner-General pending the recruitment of a substantive successor through a competitive process.
Wattanga’s exit was also attributed to growing concerns within Treasury over the authority’s performance, including missed revenue targets and operational inefficiencies in key digital tax systems coupled by allegations of friction between the KRA leadership and Treasury officials over the pace and effectiveness of reforms.
The changes come less than three years after Wattanga was appointed in August 2023 as part of a wider restructuring of the tax agency aimed at boosting efficiency, widening the tax base, and improving compliance.
His tenure was also marked by aggressive tax collection measures that sparked public debate, as well as efforts to digitise services through platforms such as eTIMS and AI-enabled filing tools.
