James Gathii Mburu has been named the new Kenya Revenue Authority Commissioner General, succeeding John Njiraini, who served for six years.
He is currently commissioner of intelligence and strategy.
Mburu’s appointment for a three-year term was revealed through a Kenya Gazette notice, signed by treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich.
Mburu has vast experience and was seen as the likely successor to Njiraini, having served in the tax administration, domestic tax and audit and investigation departments.
The appointment comes amid investigations at KRA by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), with several arrests and prosecutions so far on officials accused of corruption by aiding tax evasion.
Njiraini’s term at KRA has been turbulent, having failed to achieve the set targets in revenue collection.
In 2018, President Kenyatta replaced five board members of the tax agency among them then Chairperson Edward Sambili through a special gazette notice.
Former Head of Public Service, Francis Muthaura, was named the new chairperson with a mandate to lead a recruitment process for a new Commissioner General.
