President William Ruto has directed the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to collect Sh3 trillion by the end of the next financial year.
Speaking on Friday, October 28, during the KRA Taxpayers' Day, the Head of state added that he expected the tax man to double the current tax collection in the next five years.
He said that the country's GDP has grown to Sh12 trillion, but KRA has only contributed about 14 percent of it through revenues.
"Our GDP has risen to KShs 12 trillion, yet KRA only raised about 14% of it in revenues last year. In the past KRA was able to raise 18% of GDP. If we collect the same target today, then would have raised an extra KShs 400 billion. I expect KRA to raise 3 trillion by the end of the next financial year and to double the current collection in five years," President Ruto said.
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The president further maintained that the tax man must reflect equity by shifting from the over-taxing of trade and under-taxing of wealth to enable the wealthy to bear an appropriate burden.
He added that KRA and the National Treasury must continuously engage with stakeholders to review tax policy and make it conducive to traders and MSMEs.
However, the Head of State said that he was committed to making KRA people-friendly so as to facilitate taxpayer compliance as a core tax strategy of his government.
He said that he will be KRA's ambassador by leading Kenyans in paying their taxes.
"I am determined to ensure that our tax system is responsive to the needs of the new era in Kenyan tax administration. I commit to become your ambassador by leading Kenyans in paying taxes," the president said.
