This archive report was first published on 28 November 2019.
On November 28, 2019, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) was given a Sh2 billion boost to hire detectives and go after wealthy tax evaders. However, this move also places a huge responsibility on the tax agency to first clean its house.
For KRA to be effective in its new role, it must complete the lifestyle audit of its employees and make the findings public. This will demonstrate its commitment to eliminating collusion between its officers and tax dodgers.
Without a doubt, rogue tax officers have contributed to the less than satisfactory performance of the agency over the years, resulting in honest taxpayers carrying a disproportionately larger share of the tax burden.
It is essential for KRA to address this issue to avoid disillusioning those who are already in the tax bracket and are diligent at paying their taxes.
Once KRA has put its house in order, it must then demonstrate that the 1,000 new employees it hires to go after tax evaders are themselves people of integrity and taxpayers. A code of conduct must be established to ensure that both new and old employees uphold high levels of integrity and patriotism.
Transparency is crucial in the hiring process to avoid putting in place people who pay their way into the team or who are hired on the strength of their political connections.
The team's job is to collect the taxes due, estimated at Sh50 billion, and not to harass business owners and wealthy individuals without justification.
Targets must be measurable, and an incentive system designed to both reward success and sanction poor performance. Only then will KRA and the public get value for money.
