Report: Kalenjins form majority of KRA's June recruitment

Piece by: ALLAN KISIA

10 August 2023

• Submissions by KRA to the committee showed the Kalenjin community comprised 403 of the 1,406 RSA that were recruited.

• They were followed by Kikuyu (385), Luhya (134), Luo (76), Kenyan Somali (71), Kamba (64) and Meru (55)

The Kenya Revenue Authority's June 2023 recruitment of Revenue Service Assistants (RSAs) was dominated by Kalenjins, according to the National Assembly's Committee on National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity.

According to KRA submissions to the committee, the Kalenjin group accounted for 403 of the 1,406 RSA recruited.

They were followed by Kikuyu (385), Luhya (134), Luo (76), Kenyan Somali (71), Kamba (64) and Meru (55).

Others were Kisii (43), Maasai (42), Embu (18), Borana (12), Teso (12), Mijikenda (11) and Turkana (11).

The report said the RSAs reported from June 17, 2023, and the human resources onboarding process concluded on June 23, 2023.

“The RSAs will undergo a two-month training on VAT, excise and paramilitary,” the report stated.

KRA said the criteria prescribed for paramilitary training requirements were to be met to avoid casualties or/ loss of life due to the vigorous nature of the training.

The report noted that the advert for the job opening was closed on May 23, 2023. It said a total of 127,117 complete applications were received for the RSA’s job.

“Shortlisting was done and concluded on June 12, 2023,” it added.

Interested candidates applied for the position in the KRA e-recruitment portal.

They were required to have attained a minimum KCSE grade of D+ and be aged between 18 - 35 years.

The report added that the role of a RSA is purely field enforcement and intelligence in tax evasion which is equated to policing, a role where one can swiftly walk/run and intervene on revenue leakages on both VAT and excise.

“This is similar to Italy Revenue Police with the only difference being that the RSA’s in Kenya will not be armed but have enforcement powers,” the report explained.

Their roles will include interception and verification of tax receipts issued by traders/ taxpayers, and inspection of registration certificates to determine offences under the VAT and Excise Duty Act.

They will also conduct validation of excise licenses displayed by taxpayers and premises licensing and issuance of seizure notices for impounded goods for excise.