The Kenya School of Revenue Administration (KESRA) held its 14th graduation ceremony on Friday, 8th December, 2017 at Safari Park Hotel Nairobi. Over 400 students graduated with diplomas and certificates in tax and customs administration.
KESRA is the Kenya Revenue Authority’s (KRA) premier training school specializing in Tax Administration, Customs Administration and Fiscal Policy. During the graduation ceremony, revenue administrators from the private and public sector were encouraged to enroll for professional tax courses.
The graduation ceremony was officiated by Nairobi County Deputy Governor Polycarp Igathe and graced by KRA Board Member Mr Paul Icharia, KESRA Deputy Commissioner in charge of Academics and Students Affairs Dr Fred Mugambi, KESRA Deputy Commissioner for Finance and Administration Mr Simon Kaloki, Somalia Finance Minister Dr. Abdirahman Duale Beileh and WCO ESA Project Manager Ritta Passi.
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Mr Igathe acknowledged that the skills taught at KESRA are crucial for revenue mobilisation especially in the county governments.
KRA Commissioner General John Njiraini noted that the institution is growing its programmes and scope in partnership with other key stakeholders to position itself as a strategic trainer in the continent and beyond. “KESRA has grown rapidly from an inward looking institution a few years ago to a respected national as well as regional trainer in Tax and Customs,” read the statement in part.
Head of KESRA, Commissioner Beatrice Memo reiterated the Commissioner General’s sentiments adding that KESRA is now a fully-fledged regional Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institution.
“KESRA will continue to repackage itself in order to play a more active and valuable role in today’s modern and fast evolving world, especially in the dissemination of knowledge and skills.”
KESRA is one of the only four Regional Training Centres (RTC) of the World Customs Organization (WCO) in Africa, with only South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mauritius having tax and customs training institutions. From less than 300 students two years ago, KESRA has grown to over 3000 students across its two campuses.
Previously known as Kenya Revenue Authority Training Institute (KRATI), KESRA seeks to build a cadre of revenue administration professionals drawn from both public and private sectors at national, regional and international levels. With campuses in Nairobi and Mombasa, KESRA offers certificates and diplomas as well as post-graduate diplomas in partnership with Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and master’s degree programmes in partnership with Moi University.
