Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta appoints new KRA commissioner general

By Ben Kinyanjui

Finance minister Mr Uhuru Kenyatta has appointed Mr John Njiraini as the new commissioner general to over from Mr Michael Waweru whose term has expired.New KRA Commissioner General Mr John Njiraini

Also appointed are Mr Pancrasius Nyagah as the commissioner of domestic Taxes-large taxpayer’s office and Ms Beatrice Memo as commissioner of Customs Services.

KRA board chaired by major (Rtd) Marsden Madoka said Mr Njiraini emerged top among the three candidates that included immediate customs Commissioner Ms Wambui Namu.

Barclays Bank managing director Mr Adan Mohammed who was expected to make a strong presence failed to make an impression in the field where only candidate outside the existing KRA staff made it.

Mr Adan was viewed as favourite but he lost to Njiraini who has spent the better part of his career in accounting. He is the immediate former Commissioner of Domestic Taxes-Large Taxpayers office.

Like his predecessor, the soft spoken Njiraini has previously worked for the reputed Institute of Certified Public Accounts (ACPAK). He once served as the Chief Executive Officer.

However, the taxman landed into trouble with Members of Parliament last year when he demanded them to pay tax like any other Kenyans. They did not like it and they were waiting for his appointment to be presented in parliament in order to reject him.

However, Mr Madoka defended the new commissioner general arguing that he asked for the taxes in accordance with KRA mandate and should not be punished or intimidated for it.

“Mr Njiraini was doing what is required by the new constitution. He was not acting on his own but acting for the authority. We shall implement what KRA Act says and the Mps can do whatever they want,” said Madoka.

According to the chairman, the current KRA Act mandated the minister of Finance to appoint the commissioner from names proposed by the board and the law now blocks MPs from scrutinizing the nominees. They can however discuss his conduct in the floor of the house.

Mr Michael Waweru who has presided over KRA for eight years retires on March 3, 2012. During his tenure, revenue rose from sh200 billion to over Sh600 billion last year.