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KRA Says AI System to Catch Tax Cheats Yet to Be Rolled Out Amid Public Uproar

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The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has allayed fears that it has already rolled out an artificial intelligence system to track tax evasion, amid confusion and uproar among Kenyan taxpayers.

Earlier reports circulating online suggested that the tax agency had introduced an Intelligence Analysis Tool (IAT) to analyse massive financial datasets, raising concerns among business owners and workers who feared closer monitoring of their income streams.

To clear the air, Kenyans.co.ke conducted an exclusive interview with KRA, which made clear that it had not communicated any rollout of such a system and urged the public to rely only on announcements issued through its official communication channels for updates.

“We haven’t received that message yet, so I don’t know where you’re getting the information. That information has not come from KRA. At the moment, don’t put it into action until it comes from our KRA office,” highlighted KRA.  

KRA Commissioner of the Micro & Small Taxpayers Department, George Obell, made it clear, speaking at the 7th Edition of the MSMEs Conference & Expo at the Sarit Centre on March 13, that KRA does not track individuals on social media and other digital platforms, but it has an obligation to bridge the tax compliance gap.

“We are actually not looking into that environment, but there some other useful data that KRA has, that can actually be used to track tax compliance, but not those things flaunted on the digital ecosystem,” stated Obell.

However, KRA made it clear in November 2025, with then-Commissioner Humphrey Wattanga, that the agency planned to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) into its tax administration systems to enhance revenue mobilisation, improve accuracy, and detect patterns of tax evasion.

According to the KRA, the tool is meant to modernise tax administration and crack down on tax evasion. This system serves as a centralised intelligence repository, enabling the KRA to analyse massive datasets from multiple third-party sources, including the Business Registration Service (BRS).

The rollout, according to KRA, was to happen in phases from January 1, 2026, with the initial launch of the automated validation framework for 2025 tax returns.

The full rollout will be in June 2026, with AI cargo scanners at ports integrated to enhance surveillance of goods, followed by a phased expansion to achieve full algorithmic enforcement across more sectors between late 2026 and early 2027.

The aim, according to KRA, is to transition from manual, person-led inspections to data-driven, algorithm-based assessments to reduce human error and corruption.

With this in mind, KRA made it clear that it has not made any official communications, and in the event of any major development, communications will be made to the public via the authority’s official channels.

“If there is any communication, we will communicate via our email, like our normal email address.  So, the rollout has not been done, and we have not gotten the information. So, until we get it approved, then we can send the information to you,” stated the KRA-Kenyans.co.ke

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National Assembly dismisses claims Sacco Bill is being rushed through Parliament

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The National Assembly has dismissed reports that the Sacco Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2025, is being rushed through Parliament, saying the proposed law is still undergoing public participation.

Through infographics shared on Facebook on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, Parliament said misleading information had been circulating online about the Bill, formally known as the Sacco Societies (Amendment) Bill, National Assembly Bill No. 32 of 2025.

Bill was published in June 2025

The National Assembly said the Bill was published on June 30, 2025, and had remained under consideration for more than 12 months.

It rejected suggestions that lawmakers were fast-tracking the proposed amendments without allowing enough time for scrutiny.

According to Parliament, the lengthy period between the publication of the Bill and its current consideration shows that it is not being rushed.

Bill currently before the National Assembly committee

The Sacco Societies Amendment Bill is currently before the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.

The committee is conducting public participation and receiving views from members of the public and other stakeholders.

The submissions are expected to help the committee assess the proposed amendments before presenting its recommendations to the National Assembly.

What happens after public participation?

After the public participation process is concluded, the committee will prepare a report containing its findings and recommendations.

Parliament said the views submitted by members of the public and stakeholders could inform further amendments to the Bill.

The proposed legislation will then proceed to the National Assembly for consideration by MPs.

This means the Bill has not yet completed the legislative process and could still be amended based on the submissions received during public participation.

Bill will be forwarded to Senate

The National Assembly also clarified that the Bill will not proceed directly for presidential assent after being passed by MPs.

Because the proposed legislation concerns county governments, it will be forwarded to the Senate for consideration in accordance with the Constitution.

The Senate will be required to consider the Bill before it can complete the parliamentary process and be presented for presidential assent.

Parliament urged members of the public to rely on verified information about the Sacco Societies Amendment Bill instead of unconfirmed reports circulating online-PeopleDaily.Digital.

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Digital house-hunting platform bets on technology to reshape Nairobi’s rental market

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NAIROBI, Kenya, July 14 – A growing shift towards digital property searches is changing how Kenyans find rental homes, with real estate technology platform Reemio positioning itself as a solution to longstanding challenges.

This included fraudulent listings, costly house searches and limited market transparency.

As younger, tech-savvy consumers turn to online platforms to make purchasing decisions, the company says digitizing the rental process could improve efficiency for both tenants and landlords while lowering transaction costs.

“Our niche is to solve the problem of house hunting and also bring trust into that process. We use technology to connect renters and landlords,” said Kimani.

Kimani said the platform seeks to address inefficiencies that have traditionally made house hunting expensive and time-consuming.

Instead of physically visiting multiple properties, users can browse verified listings, take virtual tours, compare amenities and access information on additional costs such as water charges, electricity bills and service fees before scheduling physical viewings.

Beyond improving convenience for tenants, Reemio argues that technology can help landlords reduce marketing costs, shorten vacancy periods and reach a wider pool of prospective tenants, including Kenyans living abroad.

The company says its platform also generates market data that can help property owners and developers better understand evolving consumer preferences, although its long-term impact will depend on wider adoption of digital property platforms and continued investment in trustworthy online real estate marketplaces-Capitalfm.co.ke.

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ORPP edges two parties closer to joining Kenya’s political arena

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The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) has issued a notice for the provisional registration of two proposed political parties, opening a seven-day window for members of the public to lodge objections.

In a notice published by the Registrar of Political Parties and Chief Executive Officer J.C. Lorionokou, the ORPP announced that the Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP) and the People’s Alternative Voice (PAV) are in the process of being provisionally registered under Section 5(2)(a) of the Political Parties Act.

The ORPP, a State office established under Section 33 of the Political Parties Act and Article 260 of the Constitution, said its mandate includes registering and regulating political parties as well as administering the Political Parties Fund.

According to the notice, the Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP) has adopted pink, white and sky blue as its official party colours, with the slogan “Change – Mageuzi.” The party’s symbol is the acronym SDP enclosed inside a circle.

The party’s listed founder members are Nyangong’ Duncan Nyumbah, Omwandasi Jared Dishon and Kinyua Mary Wacuka.

The founders of PAV are listed as Odenyo John Fitzgerald Elly, Nyando Rachel Mmboga and Ali Hussein Kiplangat.

The Registrar said particulars of the two proposed political parties have been published on the ORPP website to facilitate public scrutiny as required by law.

Any person wishing to oppose the provisional registration of either party has seven days from the date of publication of the notice to submit objections either in writing or in person to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties at Lion Place, Fourth Floor, Waiyaki Way at Karuna Close, Nairobi.

The provisional registration marks the first step in the legal process of establishing a political party in Kenya.

Kenya has 91 fully registered political parties. The ORPP’s updated register indicates that, as of January 2026, there were 91 parties that had met the legal requirements for full registration under the Political Parties Act-STAR.

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