The Kenya School of Revenue Administration (KESRA) has awarded 1,015 graduates with certificates and diplomas in Customs and Tax Administration courses.
The graduates were awarded during KESRA’s 20th graduation ceremony held at the Bomas of Kenya, Nairobi. This year’s cohort records the highest number of graduands to have ever graduated from KESRA in one graduation event, a sign of growth and expanded reach.
KRA Commissioner General Mr Humphrey Wattanga reiterated KRA’s commitment in enhancing capacity building for staff through advanced training to pivot revenue mobilization and collection efforts. In his speech read by Ag. Commissioner for Corporate Support Services Ms Nancy Ng’etich, Mr Wattanga underscored the crucial role played by KESRA as a regional training partner of Africa Tax Administration Forum (ATAF). This, he noted, has positioned KESRA on both the regional and continental map.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, KRA Board Chairman Mr Anthony Mwaura hailed KESRA as the hub for tax, customs, fiscal and logistics knowledge research for Kenya and Africa at large. He commended KRA leadership and KESRA management for the successes the institution continues to achieve in advancing tax knowledge not only to KRA staff but also to members of the public who enroll at the institution for various courses.
In his speech read by Director for Quality Assurance at the Ministry of Education Ms Evelyne Owoko, the Cabinet Secretary for Education Hon Ezekiel Machogu applauded KESRA for training over 7,000 KRA staff per year on customs and tax administration. He noted that enhanced tax and customs knowledge is key in bolstering KRA’s revenue collection endeavors.
The ceremony was graced by the Director of Public Prosecution Mr Renson Ingonga, Finance and Planning Committee Chairman Hon Kimani Kuria and Mozambique Ambassador to Kenya Ambassador Jeronimo Rosa Chivavi among other dignitaries.
KESRA is KRA’s premier training School specializing in Tax and Customs Administration, Fiscal Policy and Management. The School is one of the only four World Customs Organisation (WCO) accredited Regional Training Centres (RTCs) in Eastern and Southern Africa.
KESRA has established and enhanced strategic partnerships with higher institutions like JKUAT, Moi University, the KDF, GIZ, OECD, ATAF and the IMF (TADAT) among others for purposes of enhancing training and professionalism. The school is also hosting the OECD African Academy for Tax and Financial Crimes Investigations.
KESRA also unveiled a mobile phone App and a chatbot during last years graduation which was successful with 882 graduates. The application is intended to enhance service delivery and student interactions by facilitating seamless live communication and ensuring that students get quick responses to their queries as soon as they come up.