This archive report was first published on 29 October 2021.
On October 27, President Uhuru Kenyatta emphasized the importance of tax compliance in Kenya's development during the Kenya Revenue Authority's (KRA) taxpayer's day.
With 19.6 million registered voters, the country's active individual taxpayers stand at only 6 million, a disparity that Kenyatta attributed to the unwillingness of some citizens to fund development through taxes.
'The majority of Kenyans demand better infrastructure, public services, and access to goods, but some of us are not willing to fund the same through registering and paying taxes,' Kenyatta said.
During the ceremony, the president awarded various individuals and cooperatives for their tax compliance, with Safaricom recognized as the leading taxpayer and Premier Credit Ltd as the top medium taxpayer.
Other notable awardees included Standard Chartered, which paid the highest corporation tax compared to its turnover, and Evergreen Logistics Corporation, which supported the government's initiative of deconsolidation and clearance of goods at the National Deconsolidation Centre.
Ukur Yatani, the Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Planning, commended the awarded taxpayers and urged others to emulate their behavior.
Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) surpassed its revenue target for FY 2021/21, collecting Sh1.669 trillion, and also reported surpassing its 2021/22 Q1 revenue target by Sh14 billion.
Francis Muthaura, KRA Board Chairman, emphasized the agency's commitment to facilitating tax collection rather than enforcing it by force.
