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I never thought I’d serve over three years, says Waweru
Former KRA Commissioner General, Michael Waweru.” Photo/FILE
Michael Waweru, the recently retired chief taxman, has revealed he never expected to last beyond three years on the job.
The former private auditor of President Kibaki who retired in March after nine years as Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Commissioner-General told a rare luncheon hosted by the President in his honour that going by precedent, he was not sure of finishing one term.
Under the former President Daniel arap Moi, the former tax head noted, only Mr John Msafari managed to complete a single three-year term.
Others were Edgar Manasseh, Yusuf Nzibo and John Munge.
He attributed his staying power and the subsequent success in tax collection—having grown revenue 16 per cent annually from Sh180 billion in 2002 to Sh635 billion last year—on presidential and staff support.
“You had continued confidence in us and often spoke about the need to pay taxes,” he told the President last Friday.
Mr Waweru said that with the ambitious Narc government development agenda in 2003, which included the unprecedented Free Primary Education (FPE), the revenue body realised it had to take serious steps to avoid State reliance on external donors.
Mr Waweru said that only countries with efficient tax collection like Korea prosper.
“If the staff found me stubborn it is because we needed strong revenue collection to finance the development programmes,” Waweru said.
He requested the President to decree that all government bodies including National Social Security Fund use KRA to collect levies since they collect from the same entities.
Mr Waweru, the man who presided over the daily four o’clock revenue update meeting, was honoured alongside four retired commissioners for efficiently running the authority.
The others were Wambui Namu for Customs, Mumo Matemu, Support Services, Simeon Kirgotty, Department of Motor Vehicles and Fidelis Mulei for Domestic Taxes.
The first three retired after serving the two three-year maximum terms prescribed under governance reforms formulated during Mr Waweru’s tenure.
Mr Mulei retired after just one term while President Kibaki gave Mr Waweru special dispensation to serve a third term.
Mr Kibaki said the FPE programme was now accommodating 10 million children thanks to KRA’s efforts.
The President also hailed KRA’s role in the country’s massive infrastructure development, including that of roads and at least 1,000 new dispensaries.
“I am pleased to be here today to celebrate the achievements of Kenyans who have served our country with distinction,” said President Kibaki at the luncheon held at Crown Plaza.
This was only the second luncheon State House had thrown to honour a public servant. The only other one was for long-serving Attorney-General Amos Wako. “These Kenyans have excelled in the critical area of tax administration and retired at the end of their tenure of office.”
The President who had harsh words for tax evaders—not to mention drunkards—said the revenue collected had made Kenya move on “and this should not be taken for granted” noting that Kenya was now able to fund over 90 per cent of the national Budget.
KRA chairman Marsden Madoka praised Mr Waweru and pointed out that the former CG had stepped on many toes as he did not seek to please everyone.
But the Finance minister set out to disabuse tax evaders of the notion that the situation would be different under John Njiraini, the new commissioner general. “We are going to support you even if you burn people’s toes,” said Njeru Githae.
