Tax officers will soon be tracked digitally as the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) rolls out a new system designed to limit face-to-face dealings, speed up services and curb internal corruption.
The technology will allow KRA to monitor where its field officers are working, who they are assisting and what actions they take while engaging taxpayers. The move is part of a wider effort to clean up the tax system and improve efficiency.
KRA Commissioner for Micro and Small Taxpayers George Obell said the system will create a clear trail of all interactions between officers and taxpayers, reducing opportunities for misconduct.
“The system will give full visibility of officer engagements in the field and significantly improve support to taxpayers while enhancing accountability and operational efficiency,” Mr Obell said.
Under the new setup, officers will be issued with digital devices linked directly to KRA’s internal systems. This will allow them to register taxpayers, access records, verify information and give immediate feedback without returning to the office.
The platform is smartphone-based and GIS-enabled, meaning KRA can track officer deployment in real time, assign tasks remotely and confirm whether assignments have been completed.
According to Mr Obell, the technology will cut delays, reduce congestion at KRA offices and improve service delivery, particularly for micro and small businesses.
KRA on corruption
The rollout comes as KRA intensifies efforts to address corruption within its ranks. In the first quarter of the 2024/2025 financial year, the authority dismissed 25 staff members over graft-related cases, compared to seven dismissals in the same period the previous year.
A total of 84 employees were disciplined for various offences between July and September 2024, as KRA tightened internal controls and enforcement.
As part of the crackdown, the taxman also runs iWhistle, an online platform that allows the public to anonymously report corruption and tax evasion. The system helped KRA recover Ksh 4.22 billion in the 2023/2024 financial year.
KRA Shared Services Commissioner Nancy Nge’tich said the new system will ensure information collected in the field is transmitted instantly to the back office, reducing delays and manual handling.
“This workflow-based solution will give management real-time visibility of officer deployment, the type of support being provided and the progress of assigned tasks,” Ms Nge’tich said.
KRA says the digital overhaul is aimed at strengthening oversight, restoring trust and making tax services faster and easier for taxpayers.
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