The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is set to install a new technology system to analyse piles of information gathered from various sources, including social media platforms, as it races to crack networks of tax cheats.
The taxman is procuring an Intelligence Analysis Tool (IAT) that will serve as a centralised intelligence repository for its Investigations and Enforcement Department (IED), enabling its agents to collect, store, and analyse large volumes of data drawn from multiple sources, such as other government agencies.
An IAT is a software designed to assist analysts in collecting, processing, visualising, and analysing large volumes of data to detect patterns, relationships, and trends.
The KRA said the system would also provide advanced visualisation features, including social network analysis, geospatial mapping, timeline charts, and automated dashboards to help investigators interpret complex datasets and identify suspicious patterns.
“The purpose of this tool is to enhance efficiency in the intelligence management process and is expected to have friendly interactive capabilities aimed at eliminating redundant processes and automating manual processes,” said the taxman in a disclosure.
The system would enable data mining and text mining for identifying patterns and relationships in large datasets, the KRA said, adding that it would also provide automated link analysis to visualise relationships between entities and uncover hidden connections.
The planned intelligence platform is part of a data-driven tax administration strategy being rolled out by the KRA, which has been building a data analytics centre to harness large volumes of information shared by private firms and government agencies.
Among the key agencies supplying data is the Business Registration Service, whose records allow the KRA officials to track company ownership, directors, and registration details.
The data hub is expected to help tax detectives within the KRA’s IED to develop advanced taxpayer profiles and identify potential fraud patterns early.
Other operational units within KRA, including the Large and Medium Taxpayers Office and the Micro and Small Taxpayers Department, are expected to use the data to pre-populate tax records in a move aimed at reducing filing burdens for businesses and workers.
KRA Commissioner-General Humphrey Wattanga said the authority’s digital transformation strategy is anchored on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced data analytics.
“The entire digital transformation that we are undertaking is premised on leveraging these emerging tech capacities and competencies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics,” said Mr Wattanga in a previous interview with the Business Daily in August 2025.
“We are establishing a data analytics centre of excellence that will be able to utilise the data that we are getting from our ecosystem to help businesses develop insights and also facilitate our customers.”
He said the authority’s focus would be limited to obtaining essential data required for tax administration and compliance.
“From a tax administration perspective, our interest is to just get minimal data for the purpose of tax administration. We have no interest in getting trade secrets and all that information that was being spoken about,” said Mr Wattanga.
“Our interest is just to get basic information for purposes of tax administration. There’s a law in place that requires the provision of an e-TIMS invoice, for instance, when you are doing transactions. That is the kind of data that we want.”
He added that the authority is keen to comply with data governance and privacy standards.
“We are very keen on matters of data governance, data protection, and data minimisation. So, our interest is to get a minimal amount of data to enable us to assess tax,” said the KRA boss.
