Safaricom emerges Kenya’s biggest taxpayer for 7th consecutive year

President Uhuru Kenyatta (left) presents Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore the overall winner trophy during the Kenya Revenue Authority 2014 Taxpayers’ Day at KICC, Nairobi. [PHOTO: WILLIS AWANDU/STANDARD]

NAIROBI, KENYA: Safaricom has for the 7th consecutive year emerged the country’s highest taxpayer, according to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). This is a demonstration of the contribution to Kenya’s economy of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector.

The telco was followed by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the Ministry of Interior as runners up. Others in descending order were Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), Kenya Breweries, Equity Group, Standard Chartered Bank, Barclays, Kenya Pipeline Company Limited and the Ministry of Health.

Tobacco maker BAT, which was highly ranked last year, was not in the top ten list.

“We gather on this day to celebrate the patriotism of our taxpayers, whose hard-earned shillings finance our country’s transformation and development. The patriot who pays his taxes and contributes his shilling to our economic emancipation, is as much a shujaa as the most famous of our heroes,” said President Uhuru Kenyatta.

He made this disclosure Tuesday during the 11th Taxpayers Awards ceremony at the KICC.

Uhuru also extended recognition to the National Treasury and KRA for the prudent management of collected taxes.

He however, warned those who evade taxes as well as corrupt tax officers that stern action would be taken against them.

“The diversity of top taxpayers who have lined up to receive various recognitions is a clear demonstration of dynamism in our economy and the vast opportunities it presents to any innovative and hard-working Kenyan business,” said Henry Rotich, Cabinet Secretary, National Treasury.

Single Window

The Taxpayers day is set aside each calendar year to recognise and award top taxpayers in various sectors of the economy. It is also a culmination of the taxpayers week, whose theme this Year is ‘Enhancing Service Delivery through Technology’.

On the list of KRA’s technology investments made this year include upgrade of the Customs Simba system, which was rolled out in July and the iTax platform for domestic taxes, which was launched in March.

“Both of these platforms have substantially enhanced our capacity to manage taxpayer operations while at the same time delivering markedly improved customer service platforms,” said John Njiraini-KRA Commissioner General. With an improved Customs Simba system and the ongoing roll out of the National Single Window system, the authority said that those engaged in international trade will experience fewer hassles.

Customs has also commenced the process of replacing the entire Simba platform with a new product that is expected to become operational within the next 18 months.

“The new customs management system is being built having in mind Kenya’s desire to become the regional business hub in East Africa,” said Njiraini.