The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) on Friday announced the appointment of two substantive Commissioners’ as it seeks to enhance its leadership capacity programme.

KRA Commissioner General Githii Mburu confirmed the Board has appointed Lilian Anyango Nyawanda as Commissioner of Customs and Border Control and Dr Edward Kinyua Karanja as Commissioner of Investigation and Enforcement.

Mburu said the two roles are crucial pillars in delivering the Authority’s vision to be a globally trusted revenue agency facilitating tax and customs compliance.

“The two leaders will play a key role in spearheading and sustaining revenue mobilization and institutional transformation agenda,” said Mburu.

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Githii Mburu. PHOTO/COURTESY

He added, “While making the appointments, the Board, led by Ambassador Francis Muthaura, has conveyed its best wishes and commitment to enable the two new commissioners excel in their roles.”

Prior to her new appointment, Nyawanda served as the Customs and Excise Manager of Africa Region at the Diageo Centre of Excellence overseeing the customs governance, risk management and international trade operations.

She started her career in tax at KRA in 2003 as a Revenue Officer (I) after undergoing the Graduate Trainee Program and rose to an acting Senior Revenue Officer in charge of gateway clearance sheds and cargo handling at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

In September 2009, she moved to Deloitte East Africa Limited as a Senior Consultant for Customs & International Trade, where she handled customs and international trade for clients, interfaced with KRA in resolving clients’ queries and audits.

She was seconded to the East African Breweries Limited (EABL) Supply Chain Department where she streamlined and managed imports and exports by working with the relevant stakeholders to ensure prompt clearance of goods and compliance with customs law.

In May 2012, she was appointed the Customs & Bonds Manager at EABL in charge of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and South Sudan and managed tax risks of import and export of raw materials and finished goods to ensure proper management of EABL clearance processes.

Lillian Anyango. PHOTO/COURTESY

In January 2014, Nyawanda was appointed Customs and Tax Manager at EABL then moved to Diageo Centre of Excellence to manage customs governance, risk management and international trade operations across Africa.

She holds a Master of Business Administration (Strategic Management) degree from USIU, a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) degree from University of Nairobi, and has a Certificate in Customs and Tax Administration from Kenya School of Revenue Administration (KESRA).

She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Public Policy & Administration from Walden University and is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success.

On his part, Dr Edward Kinyua Karanja is the Acting Commissioner of Investigation and Enforcement added to his substantive role as the Deputy Commissioner – Investigation and Enforcement, a post he has held since 2019.

He has a wealth of experience in tax investigations and has notably contributed to reforms to counter tax evasion and build confidence in tax systems and has instituted investigations that have resulted in recovery of taxes.

Dr Karanja joined KRA in 1992 as Assessor II (Special Unit Income Tax) and served until 1997, when he became Principal Revenue Officer – Head of Audit Large Taxpayers Office (LTO).

From 2000 to 2002, he served as Assistant Commissioner/Audit Manager – Head Office and in 2005, he was appointed the Assistant Commissioner – Policy Unit Technical.

Dr Edward Kinyua. PHOTO/COURTESY

From 2007 to 2010, he was the Manager in charge of the Tax Policy Unit within the Large Taxpayers Office (LTO) until his promotion to Senior Assistant Commissioner in charge of the Manufacturing Sector in LTO.

From 2013 to 2014, he served as the Manager in charge of Investigations and Enforcement, Domestic Taxes Department before being moved to the Investigations and Enforcement Department as a Chief Manager in 2015.

Dr Karanja was appointed the Deputy Commissioner, Investigations and Enforcement Department, in 2019 and is currently the Acting Commissioner for the Department.

He holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from Washington International University (WIU); a Master of Business Administration (Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management) from USIU; Master of Arts in Public Finance from Grips University, Tokyo, Japan and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and Mathematics from Egerton University.

He is a Member of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) and a Fellow of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) and a member of Kenya Institute of Management.