NAIROBI, Kenya, May 25 – The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has reaffirmed its commitment to protect taxpayer data as it accelerates its digital transformation agenda.
Commissioner General Humphrey Wattanga said the Authority is working closely with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) to implement a Data Minimisation Strategy designed to reduce risks related to the handling of personal data.
Wattanga made the remarks during a session with the Departmental Committee on Finance and Economic Planning, where he emphasised that safeguarding data is central to the Authority’s Digital Modernisation Strategy under the 9th Corporate Plan.
“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,” he said.
“Our collaboration with the ODPC aims to ensure that we continuously improve the integrity of our systems, especially with regard to access to third-party data.”
His comments follow KRA’s recent achievement of the ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification for Information Security Management Systems, a global standard that confirms the Authority’s readiness to uphold good governance, data protection, and public accountability in the digital era.
The Authority is currently in the first phase of implementing its Digital Transformation Programme, which focuses on upgrading IT infrastructure and creating an integrated ecosystem to facilitate real-time revenue collection.
The programme aims to deliver seamless tax administration and enhance voluntary compliance.
As part of this effort, KRA has launched an API platform known as GAVA Connect, through which it is engaging software developers and tech innovators to build user-friendly tax solutions that simplify processes for taxpayers.
In addition, KRA is piloting the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in managing cargo scanners at Kenya’s border points. The initiative is intended to improve efficiency in the inspection and clearance of goods entering the country.
The Commissioner General underscored that these digital innovations, paired with robust data governance, will strengthen taxpayer trust and support the Authority’s broader goal of increasing tax compliance.
