Veteran banker and former cabinet secretary takes charge of Kenya’s tax authority
By MKT Reporter
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has appointed Adan Abdulla Mohammed as Commissioner General of the Kenya Revenue Authority, replacing Humphrey Wattanga with immediate effect.
The appointment was gazetted in a Special Issue of the Kenya Gazette dated May 18, 2026, under Section 11(1) of the Kenya Revenue Authority Act, for a three-year term.
Mohammed brings a rare combination of private sector gravitas and public service experience to the role. He previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Barclays Kenya and Managing Director for Barclays East and West Africa, where he oversaw operations across ten countries. His corporate career culminated in the role of Chief Administrative Officer for Barclays Africa before he transitioned into government.
In public service, Mohammed served as Cabinet Secretary for Industrialisation and Trade and later led the East African Community and Regional Development docket. Most recently, he has served as Chief of Strategy Execution at State House under President William Ruto’s administration — a posting that placed him at the centre of the government’s economic agenda.
His appointment arrives at a critical moment for KRA, which faces mounting pressure to broaden the tax base and meet ambitious revenue targets as the government navigates a tight fiscal environment. Analysts will be watching closely to see whether his blend of financial expertise and political proximity translates into measurable gains for the authority.
Mohammed steps into one of the most consequential roles in Kenya’s public finance architecture.
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