President William Ruto has paid glowing tribute to Kenyan taxpayers, describing them as the “everyday heroes” who keep the country moving.
Delivering his State of the Nation Address in Parliament, the President said the efforts of millions of Kenyans from small business owners to salaried workers form the backbone of the nation’s progress.
“Every shilling you contribute builds our schools, keeps our hospitals open, and connects our roads. You are the architects of our Republic,” he told the House, drawing admiration from MPs.
Ruto used the moment to reflect on the growth of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), which is marking 30 years since its establishment. He noted that Kenya’s revenue collection has risen dramatically from KSh122 billion in 1995 to KSh2.57 trillion last year — a transformation he described as a testament to the country’s resilience and hard work.
He said the government is confident that for the first time, Kenya will cross the KSh3 trillion revenue mark by the end of the current financial year.
The President also highlighted ongoing changes aimed at making tax compliance easier and fairer. He pointed to the integration of KRA services into the e-Citizen platform, the growth of the GavaConnect API system, and the introduction of AI-powered tools to identify tax risks. According to him, these reforms have helped Customs record their highest monthly revenue ever KSh85 billion — while monthly domestic VAT collections have grown from KSh20 billion to KSh28 billion.
“These improvements are not just about technology,” Ruto said. “They show that government can listen, respond and make life easier for ordinary Kenyans.”
Despite global economic challenges, Ruto said Kenya’s revenue still grew by 9.1% in the second half of the last financial year, showing the country’s ability to withstand shocks.
More importantly, he stressed fairness in taxation. The President noted that while MSMEs employ almost 15 million Kenyans, they contribute only 1% of tax revenue. He said this imbalance isn’t a burden but “an opportunity to bring more people into the tax family without hurting their livelihoods.”
He welcomed the establishment of KRA’s Micro & Small Taxpayers Department — a unit dedicated to serving small businesses — and highlighted the new electronic rental income tax system, expected to raise KSh80 billion annually.
Ruto urged Kenyans to see taxation not as a punishment, but as a shared responsibility that directly affects the quality of public services.
“At the end of the day, our success will be seen in real lives: a young person who finds a job, a farmer who gets a market, a business that grows, a community with better healthcare,” he said.
