Chief Guest,

Members of the KRA Board,

Commissioner General - KRA, Mr. John K. Njiraini, KRA staff,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Honourable Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury, this is a great day as we launch the 13 Taxpayer's Month to celebrate the role that taxpayers play in the development of this country.

Honourable Cabinet Secretary let me first thank our taxpayers who are the|reason why the Government exists because through their hard work and determination to build the country, KRA is able to collect taxes. This is the 13 taxpayer's month since the program started. KRA sets aside the month of October to celebrate compliant Taxpayers for their relentless efforts in meeting their tax obligation. The 2018 Taxpayers Month will be driven by the theme; ?Expanding the Tax Base to Enable the Big 4?.

This theme highlights the fundamental role of revenue as an enabler to the government?s transformation agenda-The Big 4. The tax base expansion strategy is geared towards focusing on new, high potential revenue frontiers to generate adequate revenue. KRA intends to contribute towards successful implementation of the Big 4 Agenda through various tax initiatives.

Indeed, KRA has over the years demonstrated its capacity to serve as a key pillar in supporting Kenya?s development agenda through effective revenue mobilisation. This achievement has been earned through consistent focus on reforms geared towards modernising revenue administration processes both legal and administrative.

The Big 4 Agenda therefore coincides with KRA transformation Agenda, to create operational efficiency and support Kenya?s development aspirations. The strategy is to reengineer business processes by leveraging on technology to drive revenue collection and service delivery.

KRA aims to achieve transformation through aligning work practices to technological innovation, leveraging on data generated through technology systems as a means of enhancing compliance, refocusing customer interactions through redesign of service delivery approach and building taxpayer trust through new staff culture orientation.

In this way, KRA?s: approach of the Big 4 agenda is through tax base expansion. This is data driven (matching) in the areas of Compliance among professionals, High Net-worth compliance, Informal sector, e- commerce, taxpayers with in-active PINs and Mobile commerce compliance.

Today we have the privilege and honour of unveiling the Former Chief Justice, Hon. Dr. Willy Mutunga, as the KRA Tax Ambassador. Dr. Willy Mutunga?s commitment in championing Domestic Revenue Mobilization for Kenya?s economic sovereignty is commendable. The Tax Ambassador Programme will go a long way in helping us realize our revenue mandate. I personally, on behalf of KRA, thank you for the support you have accorded us so far. I look forward to a sizable increase to our taxpayers? register, courtesy of your passion for tax mobilization.

KRA is also today launching the new-look website. This is a sign of our corporate intention to. improve our customer experience and enhance taxpayer engagement through new ways of public management. We foresee a multi-fold improvement in customer satisfaction levels and utilization of the website as a tool of trust in the course of tax service delivery.

Finally, revenue figures continue to grow annually and we do not take this for granted. That is why we are proud to be celebrating taxpayers this entire month in appreciation of their hard work and belief in Kenya?s progress.

My board of directors shares in the KRA vision and their full representation is testimony to this. I thank them for supporting my leadership in making KRA a better. and more resilient partner in our nation?s development.

With these remarks, I now wish ?to invite you Honourable Henry Rotich, CS National Treasury, to officially launch the 2018 Taxpayer's Month.

Thank you

Ambassador Francis Muthaura,

Chairman of the Board, Kenya Revenue Authority