James Mburu Githii has been appointed as the new Commissioner General for a three-year term effective July 1, 2019.
He succeeds John Njiraini, whose exit has been marred by controversies.
In a gazette notice dated June 6, Treasury CS Henry Rotich confirmed the appointment of Githii for a three-year period effective from July 1, 2019.
Until his appointment, Mburu was serving as the KRA’s commissioner for Intelligence and Strategic Operations since April 2017.
Newly appointed KRA Commissioner General James Mburu Githii / COURTESY
He was head of investigations between December 2013 and March 2017.
His Linked In profile indicates he has over 21 years of experience in Tax Administration, Finance, Policy and Strategy development and implementation and in Training and Development. He has worked at the KRA for the last 12 years where he has Headed Tax Audit policy, Audit of large taxpayers, and Investigation functions.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting option, and is also a Master of Science Public Policy and Analysis from JKUAT.
He was picked from a list of five candidates published by KRA chairman Francis Muthaura that included Julius Waita Mwatu, Richard Boro Ndungu, Andrew Kazora Okello and Duncan Otieno Onduru.
But before the list was published, it is understood the competition was between Githii and the Commissioner in charge of Investigation and Enforcement, David Kiprop Sirikwa Yego.
He becomes the fourth consecutive man from Central Kenya to head KRA. John Munge resigned from KRA in March 2003 following allegations of lost funds and the collapse of Euro Bank. Michael Waweru succeeded him.
Njiraini has been at the helm of the tax authority since March 2012 following his appointment by President Uhuru Kenyatta, then as the Finance Minister.
