The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has appointed Dr Lilian Nyawanda as Acting Commissioner General following a leadership change at the tax authority. The appointment comes after the board decided not to renew the contract of outgoing Commissioner General Humphrey Wattanga.
Dr Nyawanda, who has been serving as the Commissioner of Customs and Border Control, will take over in an acting capacity as the authority begins a competitive recruitment process to find a substantive holder for the position. Her appointment is aimed at ensuring continuity in KRA’s operations during the transition period.
The board directed Wattanga to proceed on terminal leave effective April 8, 2026, formally bringing his tenure to an end. The move was framed as a leadership transition, with the board acknowledging his role in advancing KRA’s mandate and driving organisational restructuring during his time in office.
Nyawanda steps into the role at a time when the authority is maintaining focus on its core mandate. Her experience within KRA, particularly in customs and border control, places her in a position to steer the institution as it prepares for its next phase under new leadership.
Wattanga, who was appointed on August 22, 2023, previously worked at Meghraj Capital Group, advising on mergers, acquisitions, capital raising, and cross-border investments across multiple regions. His career also included roles at the Commission on Revenue Allocation, AT&T, and AFCORP Investments in South Africa.
During his tenure, KRA was involved in initiatives such as the M-Akiba mobile gateway platform and a multi-agency county revenue management programme, reflecting a focus on digitisation and financial systems. With Nyawanda now in charge on an interim basis, KRA is expected to continue its operations as the search for a new Commissioner General gets underway.
