Former CS Adan Mohamed appointed new KRA commissioner general

Former Cabinet Secretary Adan Mohamed has been appointed new Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Commissioner General with immediate effect.

The appointment follows a competitive recruitment process and forms part of the Board’s strategy to strengthen institutional leadership, enhance revenue mobilisation and deepen taxpayer confidence.

KRA Board Chairman Nderitu Muriithi said Mohamed brings extensive leadership experience and strategic insight needed to steer the Authority through its next phase of transformation.

“We are pleased to welcome Mohamed to lead the Kenya Revenue Authority. His track record in banking, management consulting and public service is exceptional, and his contribution to economic reform in Kenya is well documented,” Muriithi said.

“The Board is confident that he will provide steady, results-driven leadership as we work to mobilise revenue for national development.”

The Board also commended Dr. Lilian Nyawanda for her service as acting Commissioner General during the transition period. Nyawanda will return to her substantive role as Commissioner for Customs and Border Control.

“We sincerely thank Dr. Nyawanda for stepping up to lead the Authority in the acting capacity. Her dedication, professionalism and leadership during this transition have been invaluable,” Muriithi added.

Mohamed joins KRA with more than three decades of experience in financial services, management consulting, public service and corporate governance.

He previously served as Cabinet Secretary for Industrialization, Trade and Cooperatives between 2013 and 2018, before later heading the East African Community and Regional Development docket.

During his tenure at the Ministry of Industrialization, Mohamed spearheaded Kenya’s ease of doing business reforms, helping the country improve its ranking on the World Bank Ease of Doing Business Index from position 136 in 2014 to 56 in 2018.

He also led the development of the Kenya Industrial Transformation Programme and the country’s first Trade Policy.In 2015, Mohamed briefly served as acting Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries.

Before joining government, he held senior leadership positions at Barclays Bank, including chief administrative officer for Barclays Africa, overseeing operations in 10 African subsidiaries.

He also served as Chief Executive Officer of Barclays Kenya for more than a decade and as Managing Director for Barclays East and West Africa. Under his leadership, Barclays Kenya won the prestigious Banker Awards in 2009.

Mohamed began his professional career at PricewaterhouseCoopers in London, where he trained and worked as a Chartered Accountant in management consultancy and business advisory services.

He also undertook a three-year assignment with Shell in Nigeria during his early consulting career.

He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School. He also earned a First Class Honours degree in Commerce (accounting) from the University of Nairobi.

Born in Mandera County, Mohamed attended Elwak Primary School before joining Kangaru High School in Embu for his secondary education.

In 2017, he received the African Leadership Excellence Award for his role in positioning Kenya as a regional trade and investment hub. He was also conferred with the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart (EGH) for distinguished service to the Republic.

The KRA Board pledged its full support to Mohamed and called on staff, taxpayers and stakeholders to cooperate with him in delivering the authority’s mandate of mobilising revenue for national development.