NAIROBI, Kenya — Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has appointed former Cabinet Secretary Adan Abdulla Mohamed as the new Commissioner General of the Kenya Revenue Authority.
The appointment took effect on May 18, 2026, according to a special gazette notice issued by the National Treasury.
Three-year term at KRA
“In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 11(1) of the Kenya Revenue Authority Act, the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury appoints Adan Abdulla Mohamed to be the Commissioner General of Kenya Revenue Authority for a period of three years,” the notice stated.
Mohamed succeeds Humphrey Wattanga, who has led the tax authority since 2023.
Wattanga is reportedly under consideration for appointment as Kenya’s High Commissioner to Australia following his exit from KRA.
Extensive banking experience
Mohamed brings decades of experience in finance, banking, and public administration to the tax agency.
Before joining the government, he worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers in London within management consultancy and business advisory services.
He later joined Barclays Bank Kenya, where he served as Chief Executive Officer for more than a decade.
His regional influence expanded when he became Managing Director for Barclays East and West Africa before later serving as Chief Administrative Officer for Barclays Africa operations across ten countries.
Mohamed also chaired the Kenya Bankers Association during his banking career.
Public service career
Mohamed entered government in 2013 after being appointed Cabinet Secretary for Industrialisation by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
During his tenure, Kenya recorded improvements in the World Bank Ease of Doing Business rankings.
He later served as Cabinet Secretary for the East African Community between 2018 and 2022, overseeing regional trade and economic integration policies.
Role in Ruto administration
After leaving the Cabinet, Mohamed joined President William Ruto’s administration in 2023.
He first served on the Council of Economic Advisors before becoming Chief of Strategy Execution in the Executive Office of the President.
His appointment now places him in charge of Kenya’s main revenue collection agency at a time when the government is under pressure to increase domestic revenue mobilisation amid rising public expenditure demands.
