The National Assembly’s Finance and Planning Committee has rejected a proposal in the Finance Bill, 2025, that would have allowed the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to access personal data from third parties without taxpayer consent.

• The proposal was deemed unnecessary and potentially unconstitutional, violating Article 31 of the Constitution, which protects the right to privacy.
• The Committee urged the KRA to use existing legal mechanisms for tax compliance, highlighting that it already has the authority under the Tax Procedures Act.
• Stakeholders, including the Law Society of Kenya and civil society groups, warned that the proposal could lead to unwarranted surveillance and harm public trust.

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is advocating for digital reforms in value-added tax (VAT) during the African Development Bank (AfDB) VAT Digitalization Seminar.

• George Obell, Commissioner for Micro and Small Taxpayers, emphasized the importance of digital tools in enhancing revenue systems across Africa.
• KRA's initiatives, including e-filing and e-invoicing, have improved tax compliance and revenue collection.
• Obell highlighted plans to explore technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning to combat tax evasion.