NAIROBI, Kenya- Former Cabinet Secretary and current presidential adviser Adan Mohamed has reportedly been appointed the new Commissioner General of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
He will be succeeding Humphrey Wattanga, who recently exited the tax agency amid mounting pressure over revenue collection and tax administration challenges.
Wattanga was nominated for a diplomatic role by President William Ruto.
Mohamed, a seasoned corporate executive and former Cabinet Secretary for Industrialisation, Trade and East African Community Affairs, is expected to take over leadership of the tax authority at a time when the government is under intense pressure to increase revenue collection amid rising public debt and economic strain.
Before joining the government, he served as the chief executive officer of Barclays Bank Kenya and later held senior leadership roles within Barclays Africa.
He is also credited with spearheading Kenya’s industrial transformation agenda during former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration.
Reports indicate he emerged among the leading candidates shortlisted by the KRA Board during the recruitment process to replace Wattanga, whose tenure at Times Tower faced criticism over tax collection targets and growing public dissatisfaction with aggressive tax enforcement measures.
His appointment is seen as a strategic move by President Ruto’s administration to bring experienced corporate and government leadership into the country’s most critical revenue collection institution as Kenya seeks to stabilize the economy and finance ambitious development programmes.
He previously attempted to secure the KRA top job in 2012 before losing to former Commissioner General John Njiraini.
His return to a frontline public role is expected to trigger fresh debate over tax policy, revenue collection strategies and the relationship between the government and taxpayers at a time when Kenyans are grappling with the high cost of living and increased taxation.
