OPINION: Has KRA gone soft? Why paying tax is no longer a nightmare

For years, paying taxes in Kenya has been seen as a complicated, time-consuming process best left to accountants or people who “understand the system.” That perception has long discouraged many honest taxpayers from engaging fully with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).

Yet, in the past few years, a quiet revolution has been underway. Tax administration in Kenya is becoming faster, simpler, and more transparent through digital innovation.

The shift is not just about technology. It is about fairness and trust. By making the system easier to use, KRA is creating an environment where every Kenyan, from a university student freelancing online to a major manufacturing firm, can participate with confidence.

Through innovations such as eTIMS, mobile payments, and the integration of services on eCitizen, KRA is taking tax closer to the people. Today, a small trader in Eldoret can issue a digital receipt instantly on their phone. A boda boda operator in Kisumu can pay turnover tax through *222#, and a young entrepreneur in Nairobi can file returns in minutes instead of hours. These are not small conveniences. They are powerful equalizers that make compliance accessible to all.

Digital systems also help build transparency. Every transaction leaves a trail, making it harder for dishonesty to thrive and easier for genuine taxpayers to be recognized. This, in turn, strengthens public trust because Kenyans can see that everyone is playing by the same rules. Trust, once broken, is difficult to rebuild, but fairness and consistency are the foundation of its return.

The transformation also benefits businesses. Automation means less paperwork, fewer manual errors, and quicker access to tax information. This reduces operational costs and allows businesses to focus on growth rather than bureaucracy. Over time, digital records also help companies build credibility with banks, investors, and customers.

However, no digital system succeeds without people understanding and trusting it. KRA’s outreach efforts are increasingly focused on awareness, education, and partnership. The goal is not to police compliance but to make it easier for Kenyans to understand their obligations and see value in fulfilling them.

Tax is one of the few civic duties that directly links citizens to their country’s progress. When people can pay easily, they are more likely to participate willingly. Simplifying tax, therefore, is not just good policy. It is good nation-building.

Kenya’s digital shift is setting a new standard in Africa. By embedding fairness, accessibility, and accountability into every transaction, KRA is not only modernizing tax administration but also reimagining what trust in government can look like. It is a reminder that technology, when used right, can make something as complex as tax feel human again.