Opening & Closing Ceremony Speakers.
Mr. Felix K. Koskei, EGH
Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, Kenya
The office of the Chief of Staff and Head of The Public Service is responsible for managing operations, coordinating policies and supervising staff. On behalf of the President, the office handles communication with ministries, state departments and agencies regarding the daily operations of the government.
Hon. FCPA Dr. Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya, EGH
Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Cooperatives and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)
Hon. Oparanya is the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs Development, appointed on 8th August 2024. A distinguished public servant and financial expert, he previously served as Minister for Planning and Vision 2030. He previously served as the first Governor of Kakamega County (2013 - 2022)
Hon. Ndiritu Muriithi
Board Chairman - KRA
Ndiritu is the Managing Partner of Ecocapp Capital, and Regulatory Affairs Advisor at Metropol Corporation. He has 33 years of professional and leadership experience. Elected Laikipia West MP, 2007-13, he was appointed Assistant Minister for Industrialization. He served as a Senior Advisor on Audio-Visual & Cinema for Government of Kenya, the Pan African Federation of Filmmakers and the African Union, 2015-17, before being elected Governor of Laikipia County, 2017-2022.
Mr. Humphery Wattanga
Commissioner General - KRA
Mr. Humphrey Wattanga was appointed the Commissioner General of Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) on 22nd August 2023. Prior to his appointment, he was the Managing Director of Meghraj Capital Group, the investment banking advisory arm of the Meghraj Group and an international firm founded by Meghji Pethraj Shah (MP Shah).
Panelists
Mr. George Obell, MBS
Ag. Commissioner, Micro & Small Taxpayers, KRA
Mr. George Omondi Obell, MBS, is the Acting Commissioner for Micro & Small Taxpayers at KRA with over 28 years’ experience. He previously served as Deputy Commissioner (MTO, E&SoN), chaired ATAF VAT Committee, and was a UN Tax Expert.
Ms. Immaculate Kassait, MBS
Data Commissioner - Kenya
Ms. Immaculate Kassait, MBS is the first Kenya Data Commissioner with 12 years working experience in the Public Sector managing complex project in governance, training, compliance and strategy. She is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya of 14 years standing. She is a Building Resource in Democracy Governance and Elections (BRIDGE) facilitator.
Ms. Doreen Mbingi
Ag. Commissioner, Large & Medium Taxpayers - KRA
Doreen is the acting Commissioner for Large & Medium taxpayers at KRA. Prior to her appointment, Mrs. Mbingi was the Deputy Commissioner for East & South Nairobi (E&SN), Deputy Commissioner for Large Taxpayers Office (LTO), and also Deputy Commissioner for the Kenya School of Revenue Administration (KESRA).
Dr. Lilian Nyawanda
Commissioner, Customs & Border Control - KRA
Dr. Nyawanda has spearheaded adoption of technology in Customs through roll-out and integration of systems. Dr Nyawanda further oversaw the tightening of controls around Kenyan borders by strengthening the enforcement function, leading efforts to open additional border points, as well as establishment of inland border control checkpoints to curb smuggling and illicit trade.
Dr. Bright Gameli Mawudor
Dr. Bright Gameli Mawudor is a cybersecurity and blockchain intelligence leader, founder of Africahackon, and a PhD holder in IT Convergence and Information Security. With over a decade of experience, he has advised global boards, spoken at 385+ conferences, and advanced Africa’s digital resilience through strategy, capacity building, and innovation.
Dr. Kendi Muchungi
Manager, Education, Technology & Strategic Partnerships, Aga Khan University
Dr. Kendi Muchungi is Manager, Education, Technology & Strategic Partnerships at Aga Khan University and an intervention scientist at the Brain and Mind Institute. She holds a PhD in Computational Neuroscience and has extensive expertise in technology, pedagogy and partnerships. She also co-founded Nikola Energy, a waste-to-energy start-up.
Ms. Beth Wanjiru
Director of Consumer Banking at SBM Bank Kenya
Beth Wanjiru, Director of Consumer Banking at SBM Bank Kenya, is a trailblazer with 22 years’ experience driving financial inclusion, digital transformation, and women’s banking. She has led significant growth at SBM, championed gender-responsive initiatives and spoken at global forums, positioning her as a leading voice in Africa’s financial sector.
FCPA Christine Kahema Muthui
Founder and Director of Alpha Tax Advisory
FCPA Christine Muthui, Founder and Director of Alpha Tax Advisory, has over 20 years’ tax experience with multinationals, corporates, and SMEs. A former Coca-Cola and KPMG tax manager, she specializes in compliance, dispute resolution, and policy advocacy, serving on key committees, boards, and as an accredited trainer and lecturer.
Moses Nderitu
Managing Director Kenya at BasiGo
Moses is a leading advocate for electric mobility with 20 years in transport. He has pioneered the introduction of e-bus technology in Kenya, advanced sustainable mobility policies, and championed partnerships driving zero-emission public transport solutions across Kenya and East Africa.
Ms. Edwick Murungu
Programme Lead for International Business and Trade at African Leadership University
Edwick is a legal practitioner and certified leadership coach with 10+ years’ experience in trade, education and leadership. Her research on generative AI and trade complements her thought leadership on AfCFTA, e-commerce, digital governance and women’s empowerment.
Ms. Catherine Ngina Mutava
Associate Director at Strathmore University Tax Research Centre
Ms. Mutava, an Associate Director at Strathmore University Tax Research Centre and Tax Partner at Lexlink Consulting, has over 15 years’ experience in tax policy, research, and advisory. A former Tax Appeals Tribunal member, she has shaped tax jurisprudence and policy across Africa through her work on fiscal justice and reform.
Mr. Kavin Da’Silva
Global Techno Commercial Strategist
Kavin is a global techno-commercial strategist with experience across Asia, Europe, and Africa. He has led digital transformation of public infrastructures and now drives Pan-African expansion at Riana Group, advancing technology-driven, citizen-centric service delivery across sectors including ports, energy, healthcare, and government services.
Ms. Seraphine Anamanjia
Senior Manager at Ernst & Young LLP
Seraphine specializes in indirect taxes, customs, and international trade. With over a decade at KRA, she has led policy reforms, dispute resolution, and regional training, and holds an MBA in Strategic Management and an LLB as an Advocate of the High Court.
Mr. Fredrick Aloo
National Chairman of KIFWA
Fredrick is a dynamic logistics leader pursuing a Law degree and holding diplomas in Customs and Shipping Management. Founder of Bluedot Logistics, he champions digitization, regulatory reform, inclusion, and professionalization, steering KIFWA’s 2025–2030 Strategy to modernize Kenya’s freight forwarding and customs sector.
Mrs. Claudia Vargas
Head, Tax Administration & VAT, OECD Centre for Tax Policy & Administration
Formerly with Colombia’s DIAN, she has over 20 years’ experience in international and domestic tax law. A lawyer by training, she holds advanced degrees from Universidad de Los Andes and Leiden University.
Ms. Peris Kiguru
Projects Officer, KEPSA
Peris is a development professional with over a decade of experience advancing MSME, youth, and women entrepreneurship in Kenya. As Projects Officer at KEPSA, she leads transformative programs like the Jiinue Growth Program, promoting access to finance, markets, and digital transformation to strengthen inclusive enterprise ecosystems and economic growth.
Mr. Rajul Awasthi
Global Lead for Domestic Resource Mobilization, World Bank
With over 17 years’ experience in tax and governance reforms across multiple regions, he previously advised India’s Finance Minister and served in the Indian Revenue Service. He holds degrees from Princeton and IIM Ahmedabad.
Hon. Susan Auma Mang’eni
Principal Secretary, State Department for MSME Development, Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs
A governance and development expert with 15 years’ experience, she has served on key national boards, shaped public policy, and championed youth, women, and enterprise empowerment. She holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the University of Nairobi.
Mr. Kevin Olango
Head of Road Freight for Kenya and Uganda at DHL Global Forwarding
Kevin has over 16 years’ experience in international freight forwarding. He leads cross-border transport operations, driving digitalization, sustainability, and efficiency in logistics. A supply chain professional, he champions technology integration to enhance trade connectivity across Africa
Mr. Alban Odhiambo
Business Strategy
Alban is a business strategy specialist with extensive experience in applying emerging digital technologies to organizational challenges across public and private sectors. He has led major digital transformation projects in Africa and Asia and previously spearheaded TradeMark Africa’s trade facilitation, port reforms, and trade systems digitalization initiatives regionally and continentally.
FCPA Robert K. Waruiru
Partner at Ichiban Tax & Business Advisory LLP
Robert has over 20 years’ experience in tax and regulatory advisory. A Fellow of ICPAK and Advocate of the High Court, he chairs ICPAK’s Public Finance Committee and has led major tax policy, legislation, and reform initiatives in Kenya.
Ms. Jossineter Syengo
Trade and Customs Lead at KPMG Africa
Jossineter has over 18 years’ experience in tax and customs administration across public and advisory sectors. She has led revenue reforms, ICMS automation, compliance monitoring, and capacity-building initiatives, shaping policy, institutional development, and cross-agency collaboration across East Africa.
FCPA Philip Muema
Managing Partner Andersen Kenya
With over 27 years of tax and business advisory experience, he advises diverse clients and engages with policymakers on tax reform. Recognized as an industry leader, he was admitted to ICPAK's College of Fellows in 2016.