Nairobi: The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) in collaboration with The National Treasury, the African Economic Research Consortium, and the Government of Denmark, has convened a Stakeholders' Consultation Workshop to review and strengthen ongoing research supporting tax policy and revenue administration reforms in Kenya.
According to Kenya News Agency, this is the second such engagement under the Collaborative Research Programme, which brings together experts from the University of Copenhagen's Development Economics Research Group (UCPH-DERG), the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA), and KRA, under the coordination of the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) and support from the Government of Denmark through the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA).
Speaking during the opening of the Workshop, KRA Commissioner General, Mr. Humphrey Wattanga reaffirmed KRA's commitment to leverage research and data to drive Kenya's tax reform agenda. Mr. Wattanga emphasized the importance of evidence-based decision-making as a cornerstone of their tax reforms, highlighting the role of partnerships with academic institutions and research organizations in anchoring policies in rigorous analysis.
The KRA Commissioner General further mentioned that the workshop would provide an opportunity to delve deeper into the ongoing research and refine research findings into policy proposals that are expected to inform the Finance Bill, 2026. He noted that the collaboration with AERC and UCPH-DERG continues to be a vital resource in developing effective, equitable, and sustainable tax policies.
Key research themes discussed during the workshop included taxation of Petroleum Products and ways to modernize Kenya's excise tax structure. Delegates also explored the dynamics of Personal Income Tax, focusing on enhancing tax equity and efficiency through reforms. Additionally, they evaluated the role of the Electronic Tax Invoice Management System (eTIMS) in strengthening tax administration and expanding the tax base by encouraging business formalization.
The workshop also addressed the Revenue Impact of VAT Misreporting, investigating VAT compliance challenges and proposing solutions to strengthen VAT revenue integrity. The aim is to generate actionable policy proposals and reinforce the research base for critical areas including VAT, personal income tax, and excise duties, aligning with Kenya's broader national goals of enhancing tax compliance and increasing domestic revenue mobilization.