Adan Mohammed has been officially sworn in as the Commissioner General of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
The ceremony occurred at the Supreme Court on May 20, following his designation by the National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi on May 19.
Adan will hold office for a three-year period, succeeding Humphrey Wattanga, who was appointed as the Australian High Commissioner by President William Ruto in early April.
Notable attendees at the swearing-in ceremony included KRA Board Chairman Ndiritu Muriithi.
Adan’s swearing-in comes amidst an ongoing legal dispute regarding his appointment filed on May 19.
The petitioner questions his age, as public records show he was born in December 1963, making him approximately 62 years old.
According to the Public Service Commission (PSC) Act and Regulations, Regulation 70 sets a mandatory retirement age of 60 years for public officers. The petitioner claims this threshold has been exceeded by approximately two years.
The appointment is also challenged as unlawful from its inception, with the petitioner stating no lawful exception applies to this case.
Additional legal grounds cite breaches of constitutional provisions concerning leadership, integrity, and public service values, with Articles 73 and 232 being invoked to question whether the appointment adheres to merit-based standards.
The court has directed both parties to submit skeleton documents, authority bundles, and case digests by May 26, one day prior to the hearing.
The former Industrialisation Cabinet Secretary during the presidency of Uhuru Kenyatta will serve as the Chief Executive and Accounting Officer (CFAO) of the tax body.
He will also be involved in shaping tax policy, modernizing digital tax systems, and ensuring strict adherence to Customs and Tax legislation while KRA aims for enhanced revenue collection in the upcoming financial years.