The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), in partnership with the National Treasury, the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), and the Government of Denmark, has hosted a high-level Stakeholders’ Consultation Workshop aimed at advancing evidence-based tax reforms in Kenya.
Held under the Collaborative Research Programme, this is the second such engagement bringing together leading policy experts and researchers from the University of Copenhagen’s Development Economics Research Group (UCPH-DERG), the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA), and KRA. The programme is coordinated by AERC with support from the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA).
KRA Commissioner General Humphrey Wattanga opened the workshop by underscoring the authority’s commitment to data-driven policy formulation.”At KRA, we remain committed to evidence-based decision-making as a cornerstone of our tax reforms,” said Wattanga. “Our partnerships with academic institutions and research organizations have enabled us to anchor our policies in rigorous analysis, improving tax efficiency, reducing compliance burdens, and enhancing revenue mobilization.”He emphasized that the workshop offers an opportunity to deepen the current research and transform findings into actionable policy recommendations for the upcoming Finance Bill, 2026.“Our collaboration with AERC and UCPH-DERG continues to be a vital resource in developing effective, equitable, and sustainable tax policies that align with our mission,” he added.
The workshop focused on four key research areas critical to Kenya’s tax system:
Taxation of Petroleum Products:
Exploring modern approaches to Kenya’s excise tax framework in response to shifting economic conditions.
Dynamics of Personal Income Tax:
Enhancing tax equity and efficiency through strategic reforms. TIMS and Business Formalisation: Evaluating the impact of the Electronic Tax Invoice Management System (eTIMS) in improving tax administration and promoting business formalisation. Revenue Impact of VAT Misreporting: Addressing VAT compliance issues and developing solutions to strengthen revenue integrity.
The ongoing collaboration aims to generate policy proposals that will boost domestic revenue mobilization, ease administrative burdens, and support the country’s long-term development goals.
