Former Kenya Revenue Authority Commissioner General Humphrey Wattanga has dismissed claims that he was fired from office. He said his departure followed the terms outlined in his employment contract.
Wattanga addressed the issue on Thursday, May 14, during his vetting before Parliament. Lawmakers questioned him over his nomination as Kenya’s High Commissioner to Canada.
The former tax boss served at KRA from August 2023 until April 2026. His contract was expected to end officially in August 2026.
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Wattanga told the committee that he proceeded on terminal leave after learning his contract would not continue. He insisted the move complied fully with contract provisions.
“My contract runs until August this year,” Wattanga told the parliamentary committee. He added that he had already received payment for the leave period.
MPs Question Circumstances of Departure
Martha Wangari questioned Wattanga over reports suggesting he had been dismissed early. The Gilgil MP asked him to clarify the exact circumstances surrounding his exit.
Lawmakers also questioned why he requested postponement of his parliamentary vetting session earlier. Some MPs viewed the request as reluctance toward the diplomatic appointment.
Yusuf Hassan Abdi noted that presidential nominees rarely seek delays in approval hearings. He asked Wattanga what informed the unusual request.
In response, Wattanga explained that he needed more time for transition at KRA. He argued that the Commissioner General’s office required a structured handover process.
The committee also questioned him about trade relations between Kenya and Canada. MPs wanted to know how he plans expanding Kenyan exports if approved.
Wattanga acknowledged that Canada currently exports more goods to Kenya than Kenya exports there. He said Kenya exported goods worth 58 million dollars to Canada in 2025.
Canada, meanwhile, exported goods valued at around 160 million dollars to Kenya. Parliament will now decide whether to approve his diplomatic appointment.
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