The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has been urged to inspire confidence among taxpayers, which is part of inculcating voluntary compliance.
Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi says the Government has introduced radical measures to transform tax administration to achieve the full potential in revenue mobilization.
Mudavadi says KRA, which is governments’ national revenue collection agency, should embrace professionalism and enhance efficiency and fairness.
He said the tax man must at all times ensure accountability and transparency for the government to meet its target in revenue collection.
“All nations depend on taxes to provide public services to citizens and sustain economic growth. Through taxes, we build and run hospitals, develop schools, pay teachers, deliver water, construct national transport networks, and provide national security, among other public necessities,” the Prime Cabinet Secretary said.
Mudavadi was speaking at the recruits training college in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County where he represented President William Ruto in the graduation ceremony for KRA Revenue Service Assistants.
Mudavadi said through revenue mobilization, the country will be able to meet its national and international obligations.
While lauding the 1405 graduands who have completed a two-months training course to become revenue service assistants, the Prime Cabinet Secretary said it is always a moment of joy when talents are nurtured for the benefit of the economic and sovereign growth of the country.
“This ceremony marks the end of training that has developed talents to protect and boost national tax revenues. This is commendable and your entry should make tax collection laudable in the financial year 2023/2024,” he told the graduands.
The graduands were trained on tax education as well as paramilitary training to instil discipline in them. Further they were trained on technical skills in VAT, Excise tax and tax business systems; combined with the ethos of patriotism, integrity and national values.
“Capacity building should therefore be seen in the prism of developing an effective contemporary tax system to fund development and create economic resilience,” Mudavadi said.
He urged Kenyans to ignore dissenting voices purporting that the government is placing punitive taxation measures on Kenyans.
“Developing effective and efficient revenue mobilisation measures is a significant in gauging the performance of Government. In-turn, it is an obligation for every citizen to pay their share of taxes,” the Prime Cabinet Secretary said.
Mudavadi says time has come for Kenyans to change their mind set and realize that they hold the destiny of their country thus everyone is obliged to honour their tax obligations.
KRA recorded a 6.7% growth in revenue collection in the 2022/2023 Financial Year, netting Kshs 2.166 trillion compared to Kshs 2.031 trillion collected in the 2021/2022 financial year.
“I want to commend KRA for its role in supporting the country’s development agenda. I encourage them to continue working hard towards improving tax collection to enable this country become financially sovereign.
“As the tax man you are expected to enforce tax compliance. But even as you engage in revenue collection and sealing leakages, you must also be respectful of the taxpayers.
Understand the flow of their revenue streams and help them organise themselves to operate within the law. They are your valued patrons, not criminals,” cautioned Mudavadi.
He called upon KRA through its staff to help businesses comply with their tax obligations by simplifying processes and providing a steady and predictable business environment.
“A business-friendly approach is what you are obligated to. Government has to collect revenue but we will not kill the goose that lays the golden egg.
“We have to be realistic on the targets we set so that we do not go to an extent of panicking and doing things that are not business friendly. Policies must reflect the outcome,” said Mudavadi.