TIMES TOWER, Nairobi, 8th April 2026 – The Kenya Revenue Authority Board of Directors has implemented new leadership changes with the immediate appointment of Dr Lillian Nyawanda as the interim Commissioner General.
She will hold this new position until a substantive officeholder is appointed, joining the ranks of women such as Mrs Rispah Simiyu, who previously served in a similar role at the tax agency.
This decision follows the sending of Humphrey Wattanga Mulongo on terminal leave, effective immediately – four months before the end of his contract.
In a press release, the board also informed the public that it will not renew his contract of service, which commenced on 22 August 2023. He was appointed by the immediate former Cabinet Secretary of the National Treasury and Economic Planning, Prof Njuguna Ndung’u.
“We commend his leadership and instrumental role in our restructuring reforms. We thank him for his dedicated service to the Authority and the nation,” the statement issued by Chairman Ndiritu Muriithi reads.
In her extensive career spanning over 20 years, Dr Nyawanda, who is the current Commissioner of Customs and Border Control at KRA, brings a wealth of experience in tax administration, customs, and international trade, alongside holding an MBA in Strategic Management.
In 2003, she joined KRA as a graduate trainee and steadily progressed through various operational roles. Dr Nyawanda also gained private sector experience with Deloitte East Africa and EABL, specialising in customs management, tax advisory, and cross-border trade. As Diageo’s Centre of Excellence senior officer, she was responsible for customs governance and trade operations across Africa.
Having served in an acting capacity since 2019, the KRA board also formalised the appointment of Edward Kinyua Karanja as Commissioner of Investigation and Enforcement.
Established in July 1, 1995, the tax agency which announced surpassing the Sh2 trillion revenue collection mark in nine months (three quarters) on Tuesday, 7th April 2026, reiterated its commitment to maintaining effective and efficient service delivery for all Kenyans.
