The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has announced plans to implement further upgrades to its electronic Tax Invoice Management System (eTIMS) as part of a broader strategy to ramp up revenue collection and enhance compliance. According to the taxman, its biggest potential bet to collect more taxes has been through the upgrades on the eTIMs, which have enabled it to increase revenue collection, specifically on the Value Added Tax (VAT). Speaking at the African Development Bank's VAT Digitization Seminar in Nairobi, Commissioner for Medium and Small Taxpayers George Obell said eTIMS has already proven to be a game-changer, significantly boosting VAT returns, sealing loopholes, and reducing fraud. "The VAT system in Kenya is undergoing a revolution," said Obell. "Our goal is for VAT to become the most reliable and highest-yielding tax head.
VAT is paid by consumers - businesses are simply agents.
When the system is misused, both the public and government lose." KRA Acting Commissioner, Micro and Small taxpayers, George Obell, speaking at the African Development Bank's VAT Digitization Seminar in Nairobi on June 18, 2025.
Photo KRA eTIMS enables real-time transaction monitoring, automatic rejection of unsupported deductions, and instant detection of fictitious invoices.
