Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Chairman Ndiritu Muriithi has moved to ease public fears over claims that the tax agency would directly access Kenyans’ M-Pesa and bank accounts.
Speaking in an interview on Monday, September 22, 2025, Muriithi said the issue had been widely misunderstood. He explained that earlier provisions in the Finance Bill had been misinterpreted, fueling speculation that KRA intended to monitor individual transactions.
“In M-Pesa, for example, when you pay for your lunch, the money goes where it should. What is meant for the restaurant goes to the restaurant, what is for the tourism fund goes there,” Muriithi said.
“I believe something was lost in translation, and some people understood it to mean that KRA would track all personal transactions. That is totally misunderstood.”
The KRA chair assured Kenyans that the agency has no intention of spying on or directly accessing private accounts. Instead, the authority aims to improve efficiency in tax collection while safeguarding personal data.
Muriithi emphasized that expanding the tax base is crucial to easing the burden on salaried workers and compliant businesses.
“If everyone contributes, the amount that individuals and businesses like Mbuvi or Nderitu have to pay will decrease. That is what we really need, so the burden does not fall on a few who have a paycheck,” he explained.
He added that KRA would invest in clearer communication to ensure the public fully understands proposed tax measures in the future.
The reassurance follows concerns raised by the Finance Bill 2024, which initially sought to exempt KRA from restrictions on accessing taxpayers’ private data. While the proposal allowed the agency to compel banks and telecoms to provide customer statements, the controversial clause was later removed.
Muriithi concluded by stressing that the KRA remains committed to fairness, efficiency, and protecting the privacy of taxpayers while working to expand revenue collection in a sustainable way.
