The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Commissioner General Humphrey Wattanga Mulongo has made sweeping changes where top managers in customs were shuffled.
He termed the changes normal in an internal memo that saw all 29 chief managers changed, but it was seen as move to stamp his authority.
“As part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring the highest level of operational efficiency, the need for strategic personnel placement is imperative.” said Mulongo
“After thorough evaluation of individual expertise, departmental needs, and our overarching objectives, the following changes are made with immediate effect,” he added.
He said said the shuffling of the senior managers was aimed at optimizing their core mandate of revenue collections, streamline activities, and ensure staff are best placed where their expertise can be utilized to the fullest.
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Board Wednesday, October 11 re-deployed Lilian Nyawanda as the Commissioner for Customs and Border Control (C&BC) Department.
The deployment follows her release by the Ministry of National Treasury and Economic Planning, where she had been deployed for the last seven months.
In the transfers dated October 6, Mulongo named Swalleh Faraj Taher as chief manager of Port Operations, Lucy Ng’ang’a (Licensing, QMS, and Dispute Resolution), Abdi Hussein (Policy, EAC, International networks), Jane Kabura (Mombasa Headquarters and Outstations), Evanson Mairura (Enforcement and Marine Operations) and George Aduwi (ICD Nairobi).
Others affected include Sally Serem (Passenger Clearance), Immaculate Njeru (Profiling and Targeting), Jane Wanjira Ombui (Revenue Monitoring Unit), John Kabiru (Remission and Exemptions), Agatha Munyaka (Bonds Management), John Bisonga (Rift Valley Region), Grace Lekasi (Western), James Ndege (Cargo Monitoring), Laura Onyambu (Trade Facilitation) and Franklin Onjala (CFS).
Also affected were Adan Alio (Nairobi Customs Stations), Bernard Kibiti (Petroleum Monitoring Unit), Tabitha Mwangi (Business Intelligence), Ken Kaimenyi (Business Transformation office), Dominic Oyaro (Northern Region), Albert Atambo (Scanner Management) and Christine Ilihalwa (PCA).
Rispah Simiyu was named the Commissioner Domestic Taxes Department (DTD).
Simiyu had acted as the acting CG from February 2023 to August 24, 2023, when Wattanga was named the new boss there.
The coming in of Mulongo prompted the new changes announced on September 7, 2023 officials said.
In the earlier changes, acting DTD Commissioner David Mwangi was moved and named the Deputy Commissioner of Tax Dispute Resolution.
The Deputy Commissioner, of Research and Knowledge Management Current Alex Mwangi was moved and named the acting Commissioner, of Strategy, Innovation and Risk Management Department (SIRM).
Acting Deputy Commissioner, Tax Dispute Resolution Michael Kasingiu was named the Chief Manager, Independent Review of Objections.
