KRA Appoints Lilian Nyawanda Acting Boss as Wattanga Exits

Lilian Nyawanda has been tapped to take over the leadership of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) in an acting capacity, marking a shift at the top of the country’s main tax agency.

Her appointment follows the exit of Commissioner General Humphrey Wattanga, who will proceed on terminal leave after the KRA Board decided not to renew his contract.

Nyawanda, who has been serving as Commissioner for Customs and Border Control, now steps into the role at a critical time when the authority is under pressure to sustain revenue growth and tighten compliance.

Announcing the changes, Board Chair Ndiritu Muriithi acknowledged Wattanga’s contribution during his time in office.

“The Board takes this opportunity to commend the outgoing Commissioner General for his dedicated service and leadership to the Authority and the country,” he said.

He added that Wattanga played a key role in steering reforms within KRA, including organisational restructuring efforts aimed at improving efficiency and service delivery.

Wattanga took over the position in 2023 and has been at the centre of efforts to modernise tax administration, expand the tax base, and strengthen enforcement. Under his leadership, the authority pushed several reforms, including the digitisation of services and enhanced monitoring of customs operations to curb leakages.

Nyawanda brings with her years of experience within KRA, particularly in customs, where she has been overseeing border operations, trade facilitation and enforcement. Her role has placed her at the forefront of tackling illicit trade and boosting revenue collection at key entry points.

She now assumes the acting role as the board begins the process of recruiting a substantive Commissioner General.

“The board will undertake a competitive recruitment process to fill the position permanently,” Muriithi said.

Her immediate focus will be to ensure continuity in operations and maintain momentum in revenue collection as the authority navigates the leadership transition.