State of the Nation: President Uhuru Tells KRA to Go After Super-Rich Kenyans

President Kenyatta has instructed Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to go after super-rich Kenyans who fail to pay taxes.

President Kenyatta says there are many Kenyans who are living large but are paying little or no taxes. He says every Kenyan must pay taxes that match with their wealth.

"High net worth persons whose lifestyles are not reflective of the taxes that they pay must be compelled to demonstrate the source of their wealth and to contribute their share of taxes accordingly," says Kenyatta.

He also says high net worth individuals should be forced to reveal the source of their fortune so that they can be taxed appropriately.

This, President Uhuru says, would widen KRA’s tax base and help raise more funds for the country's development.

Ahead of his State of the Nation Address, President Uhuru says that although there is impressive growth in Kenya's GDP over the years, the country’s tax base remains significantly low.

“As a consequence, we have in the recent past taken steps to widen the tax base and seek the implementation of more broad-based taxes as a means of bringing more Kenyans into the tax net,” Kenyatta notes.