Yusuf Nzibo was the first KRA Commissioner General.
The Diplomat, the husband to Dr. Sally Kosgei was sacked after he fell out with sugar barons and Kilindini wheeler-dealers.
He was replaced by John Msafari, arguably the most colourless KRA Commissioner General. Msafari was sacked in 1999 to pave way for Moi-era dream team blue-eyed boy John Paul Munge.
John Munge 2001-2003
Munge was an accomplished stock broker, trading as Shah Munge and Partners. He has rubbed shoulders with the high, mighty and powerful during the privatization of Kenya Airways.
He was on speed dial of industry captains including Naushad Merali, Samuel Gichuru, Gareth George, Michael Oduor Otieno and then head of Civil Service Richard Leakey. Munge’s CV spoke loudly of his capabilities.
He gave KRA a larger-than-life profile. Until one day, his VAT Commissioner Kepha Tande turned him in. Tande, either through ommission or commission invested KRA money in Euro Bank. This was in 2001.
The transaction was quickly picked by the economic intelligence team which escalated it to Moi. Munge of course reversed the transaction and the money was quickly returned to National Bank.
The trail was used by Charity Kaluki Ngilu to demand the sacking of Munge by Mwai Kibaki on 3rd March 2003. Munge was charged with the offence by overzealous police shortly after he resigned from KRA.
He hired Mutula Kilonzo Junior, Present day Makueni Governor to defend him. He was acquitted of the conspiracy charges but the tribulations triggered the health complications that finally claimed his life in 2021.
Michael Waweru 2003 – 2012
Michael Gitau Waweru is considered by many the best Commissioner General and tax manager. An accountant whose dream was to be a lawyer was as hard as nuts in dealing graft. But he abhorred pettiness.
Waweru single-handedly changed the way KRA worked, gave staff dignity, introduced mortgage and modern medical cover and protect the integrity of staff and taxpayers.
He sacked top officers caught stealing taxes, but gave junior officers a chance to redeem their careers.
It was during his watch the Simba System, the ETR machines, taxpayer education and reward system was introduced.
He hated the idea of World Bank and IMF funding recurrent government expenditure and ensured all due taxes were paid.
He had a human side. Tax evaders and cheats willing to pay were allowed to draw a repayment plan, acceptable to both parties.
Waweru retired gracefully from KRA after 3 terms and was appointed the Chairman of Kenya Railways in 2018. There he met cartels who nearly got him in trouble.
He was finally sacked and appointed a board director of another parastatal which he declined.
John Njiriani 2012-2019
John Njiraini aka Yellowman replaced Waweru. The former ICPAK CEO, who hitherto headed the large taxpayer docket struggled to fit in the shoes of Waweru in many aspects.
It was during his tenure that the taxman started struggling and losing its mojo as the regional tax kingpin. By the time he exited, the taxman brand was an all-time low.
Mburu Githii will be remembered for introducing modern tax management systems in KRA. He ruthlessly widened the tax base and introduced a lifestyle taxpayer audit that multiplied his enemies.
He was viewed as a sympathiser of retired President Kenyatta and he was a dead man walking from 9th August. The jury is still out there on his impact at KRA, but he is not listed among corrupt people.
His biggest undoing was to close businesses with tax challenges and especially the famous Thika Brewery owned by billionaire Kariuki. He had run-ins with Senator Tabitha Karanja of Keroche. What happens next in KRA will be the stuff of movies.
