'Stop the tiresome drama!' President Ruto lectures KRA staff as he files his tax returns

President William Ruto has put the Kenya Revenue Authority on notice to improve its operations by adopting more efficient and transparent practices in ensuring tax compliance.

The Head of State, who was speaking on Friday at Times Tower after filing his tax returns, noted that although tax revenue has grown steadily in recent years, the tax base remains far short of its full potential, blaming it on KRA's use of what he termed as "technologies that belong to a bygone era."

"The authority continues to maximise collection from existing taxpayers through processes and technologies that belong to a bygone era, including disruptive stoppages of revenue-generating operations, summary actions, time-consuming, laborious and inefficient assessment methods and a flagrant penchant for intimidation through arbitrary prosecution," said Ruto.

Ruto went ahead to lecture KRA officials insisting that they ought to undertake serious and effective culture change in revenue mobilization, adding that the taxman must deal with the wanton bribe-taking and general corruption that provide loopholes for revenue leakages.

"...collusion, wanton bribe-taking and general corruption continue to pervade operations of KRA, facilitating tax evasion, massive leakages of potential revenue and inability to meet revenue targets," said Ruto.

He added: "It has also been noted that KRA has not embraced a culture of supporting and facilitating taxpayers, alternative dispute resolution and the deployment of efficient technologies to improve revenue performance."

He pointed out that KRA has been resistant to the introduction and upgrading of revenue administration technologies, noting that corruptible revenue collection methods have been the preferred mode of operation at Times Tower which houses KRA headquarters.

"...KRA must stop the tiresome drama of pretending to be fighting with stakeholders over new technology and avoid irritating Kenyans with proposals to spend billion of shillings on irrelevant projects. Kenyans expect no less, deserve no less and are entitled to no less," said KRA.

The President pledged his commitment to ensuring effectiveness and accountability in the use of public funds collected by KRA.

"I shall therefore be personally involved in ensuring that Kenyans get their taxes’ worth of public services in full and that none, regardless of status, steals or wastes public resources. On this matter, I would like to let my actions speak for me," he said.

He pointed out that KRA has been resistant to the introduction and upgrading of revenue administration technologies, noting that corruptible revenue collection methods have been the preferred mode of operation at Times Tower which houses KRA headquarters.

"...KRA must stop the tiresome drama of pretending to be fighting with stakeholders over new technology and avoid irritating Kenyans with proposals to spend billion of shillings on irrelevant projects. Kenyans expect no less, deserve no less and are entitled to no less," said KRA.

President Ruto urged KRA and the government as a whole to embrace integrity in managing public resources, even as he pledged his commitment to ensuring effectiveness and accountability in the use of public funds colllected by KRA.

"I shall therefore be personally involved in ensuring that Kenyans get their taxes’ worth of public services in full and that none, regardless of status, steals or wastes public resources. On this matter, I would like to let my actions speak for me," he said.