The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding taxpayer data as it accelerates its digital transformation agenda. This assurance was made by KRA Commissioner General Humphrey Wattanga during a meeting with the Departmental Committee on Finance and Economic Planning.
Wattanga emphasized that KRA is working closely with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) to implement a Data Minimisation Strategy aimed at reducing risks associated with the handling of personal taxpayer information. “We have already put in place immediate measures to swiftly disable loopholes on our portals that could be maliciously exploited to access personal taxpayer data,” said Wattanga.
The commitment is part of KRA’s broader Digital Modernisation Strategy under its 9th Corporate Plan, which seeks to establish a more secure and efficient tax administration framework. The strategy includes efforts to improve system integrity, particularly in the handling of third-party data.
This announcement follows KRA’s recent achievement in securing the ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification for its Information Security Management System (ISMS). This international standard underscores the Authority’s commitment to best practices in data protection, good governance, and accountability in an increasingly digital environment.
The Commissioner General further noted that KRA is currently in the initial phase of implementing a comprehensive Digital Transformation Programme. This includes revamping its IT infrastructure to enable an end-to-end integrated ecosystem for real-time revenue collection and seamless taxpayer services.
As part of this transformation, KRA has rolled out the GAVA Connect API platform, which promotes collaboration with developers and tech professionals to design user-friendly digital solutions. These efforts aim to simplify tax processes and encourage voluntary compliance.
In addition, KRA is piloting the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance cargo scanner operations at Kenya’s border points. This initiative is expected to boost the efficiency of cargo inspection and clearance processes.
The steps taken by KRA mark a significant leap toward securing taxpayer data and enhancing service delivery through innovation, demonstrating its resolve to build a trustworthy and tech-savvy revenue system in Kenya.
