EDUCATION

Empowering Women and Girls: KRA's Code Red Campaign Tackles Menstrual Poverty

2024-05-17T08:00:32+00:00

At Kenya Revenue Authority we believe in more than just numbers, we believe in making a real impact on lives. In our unwavering commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), launched the Code Red Campaign. This initiative was about touching lives and empowering women behind bars, Children and needy girls in school with an aim to address the need for menstrual poverty.

Since the marking of International Women’s Day to date, KRA employees supported over 3,000 women and 100 Children across various Women’s Prisons namely; Kisumu Women's Prison, Shimo la Tewa Women's Prison, Eldoret’s Women Prison, Meru Women’s Prison, Embu Women’s Prison, Machakos Women’s Prison and Langata Women’s Prison. KRA has also supported St. Thomas Aquinas Komosoko Girls School in Isebania, Migori County and Saika Group in Njiru Feminist’ at Silanga

Imagine the daily struggles of these women dealing with not just the confinement of prison walls but also the lack of basic hygiene essentials. That's where Code Red stepped in. Under CSR Health Pillar, one of the main areas of focus is addressing the fundamental needs and well-being of female inmates and girl’s schools.

Our mission was simple yet profound; providing essential hygiene products like sanitary pads, and dignity kits wear. It was about dignity, respect, and ensuring that every woman and girl, regardless of their circumstances, has access to these basic necessities.

The Code Red Campaign wasn't just a charity handing out products, it was a movement igniting change and championing dignity.

Picture the ripple effect of this campaign: women and children feeling valued and empowered, communities inspired to advocate for change, and a society that prioritizes human rights and compassion.

By Junne Ndanu

KRA's Tenda Wema Initiative:Making a Difference in Kenyan Communities

2024-05-13T11:34:36+00:00

Other than tax collection and provision of tax services in the country, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) understands the importance of giving back to the society. Through our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) pillars—Education, Health, Environment, and Sports, we have implemented over 100 social engagements initiatives in the underserved communities through our doing good programme called Tenda Wema.

In doing good KRA staff have offered donations (food, clothing, dignity kits) counselling and mentorship sessions in schools and youth in underserved communities. So far, we have mentored 358 youth and teen mothers in Ngong, Kibra, Mukuru kwa Reuben and Njiru.

Under our education pillar, KRA staff visited Shinning Hill School in Njiru, offering valuable counselling and mentorship to students on critical social issues such as teen pregnancy, drug abuse and early marriages. KRA certified counsellors from the Customs and Border Control Department Mr. Samuel Githinji and Ms. Bertha Wambui shared insights and personal experiences, emphasizing the importance of avoiding early marriages and drug abuse.

Under our Health pillar, we have embraced neurodiversity by celebrating Autism awareness month through staff sensitisations and school visits. One such visit was at Percy Davies Special School in Murang'a County. During this event, our staff donated food items to 89 special needs students and participated in activities such as singing, dancing, sharing snacks and stories telling.

Additionally, KRA Volunteers have given 2250 Hours( 94 days) to community service in areas such as Umama Grounds, Komarok, Kawangware kwa Chief, Huruma, Soweto, Embakasi, Dagoretti, Ngando Ward, Mwiki, Kasarani, Mihango, Lake View Junior Academy, Kibera High- Rise Soweto Resource Centre, Dagoretti, Ngando Ward, Babadogo area amongst others. This engagements are done every Sunday, in partnership with by the Hindu Council of Kenya and Relationship Haven Organisation through a weekly feeding programme in underserved communities.

Our Tenda Wema program, Swahili for "do good," encourages voluntary donations from our staff to support local underprivileged communities. It's more than a campaign; it's a movement aimed at fostering generosity among our employees and making a real difference in the lives of those less fortunate.

Through our CSR Volunteerism Program, we actively engage our staff in initiatives that foster community engagement. This demonstrates our commitment to social responsibility. We believe that by coming together and giving back, we can make a real difference in the lives of those less fortunate. Join us in giving back and be part of the change, as Kulipa Ushuru, nikujitegemea!

By Junne Ndanu

"Giving back to society is not just about making a donation, it's about making a difference." - Kathy Calvin

KRA Mentors Teen Mothers in Mukuru Slums

2023-04-19T05:43:55+00:00

A total of (66) Kenya Revenue Authority staff volunteers across all regions in the country have been trained on how to conduct mentorship in a bid to enhance their capacity and knowledge during community social engagements. This will also provide a structured framework of conducting future engagements.

The hands-on training was conducted at Times Tower building and Mukuru Skills Training Center in Nairobi. KRA has long held the belief that community engagements such as mentorship programmes that help the youth transition to gainful employment will enable KRA secure a sustainable tax regime by raising a population that appreciates voluntary compliance.
Taxpayers have the opportunity to understand the customer-centric nature of KRA and appreciate the taxman as an open and approachable organisation focused on improving the society. This is anticipated to empower Kenyans through tax education and help taxpayers understand the role of KRA in economic development.

The theoretical part of the training was at Times Tower followed by a practical session at Mukuru Skills Training Centre. More than 150 teen mothers participated in joint a mentorship and life skills session organized in partnership with the Kenya Red Cross, YMCA, Hope Worldwide, Partners for Health and Development in Africa (PHDA) among other organizations that provided free medical check-ups to the women and their children.

Understanding KRA’s Mandate
During the plenary, the young mothers were asked to share their understanding of the role of KRA and its services. A running thread in the feedback indicated that community engagement provides a free environment for the taxpayers to openly share their concerns with KRA. One asked, “Why do have I have to renew my KRA PIN every year? Another chimed, “What should I do if I lose my KRA PIN?”

From some of the questions, it was easy for KRA to discern that taxpayers in informal areas confused PIN with Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC) The tax education team explained to the community that KRA PIN and IDs are linked, therefore a taxpayer can trace their PIN by providing their ID numbers via the call centre or digital platforms. The community freely engaged with the KRA volunteers at the ‘chapati forum’, group sessions and plenary.

Tenda Wema Initiative
The community benefited from various professional services offered by KRA staff who are trained counsellors, mental health experts, life skills coaches and peer mentors. KRA presented food, sanitary towels and clothes donated by staff under the ‘Tenda Wema’ campaign. The initiative is an anchor for KRA’s staff volunteerism programme and seeks to encourage KRA staff to participate in community development. The mentorship session promoted practical skills, guidance and support to the young mothers and young women. “Through this programme, my seven-month-old baby has benefited from a free medical check-up,” said one of the young mothers. “I would recommend we have many of these programs because some women around neither have capacity nor knowledge on how to raise a baby.”

The outreach demonstrated the power of community support and the importance of providing essential services such as healthcare to those who need it most. For KRA, it was a great opportunity to test the hypothesis that when we go to the communities at their places of comfort, they will trust us more and open up, ultimately changing their perception of the taxman.
Capacity building is a crucial component of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme as it equips volunteers with practical techniques for conducting mentorship during various community engagements. It also enhances the knowledge and abilities of the volunteers in guiding learners during mentorship and coaching sessions, which are a crucial part of the programme.

Currently, KRA has 340 registered staff volunteers nationwide and 10 implementing partners at the grassroots and national level. This financial year, KRA has implemented 3o community social engagements.

By Felgona Ochieng

We all have a role to play- Embracing Gender Equity

2023-03-17T08:00:17+00:00

As the world celebrates International Women’s Day, the discourse is no longer centered around women’s traditional roles as home makers. Instead, the focus through the theme is on Embracing Gender Equity and acknowledging the outstanding contributions of women in all spheres of life. This day is about recognizing the achievements of women and advocating for their right.

The Focus on Embracing Gender Equity on International Women’s Day

In its tradition, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) through their volunteerism program recently joined the global society in celebrating the 2023 International Women’s Day (IWD). KRA marked the event through various activities including participation in social engagements through the program aiming to support and unify gender parity across the globe. The program which consist of 300 volunteers participates in community social engagements steered towards facilitating staff passion outside tax administration duties and appreciation of community engagements.

Staff Volunteers Engage Male Youths in Ngong Town for Mentorship Program at Lifesong Kenya

In the spirit of embracing equity, KRA staff volunteers organized a mentorship program with two institutions; Garden of Hope School and Kenswed Vocational Training where they engaged male youths aged between 11-24 years Ngong Town. The aim of the institutions is to provide an opportunity for the less privileged children and youth with skills that will enable them secure jobs and grow their entrepreneurship skills.

During the program, KRA volunteers counselled the youths on life skills, career development, self-employment options and provided them with tips for marketing start-ups. The volunteer counselors also shared relatable life experiences during the one-on-one counselling sessions with the youths. They also offered other aftercare support services to prepare and encourage them for future life.

During the session, participants had a safe space to express their emotions and develop emotional intelligence. The youths noted that most often the society views the boy child as a strong gender and they are taught to suppress their emotions and exhibit traditional “masculine” traits even when emotionally challenged. This they said, has led to anxiety, depression, and a lack of emotional intelligence amongst the male youths.

Speaking during the session, Lifesong Kenya Founder, said that the facility provides a three months’ transitional house for male youths aged between 10-25 years, who are in need of safe space and aftercare support for their healing and restoration back to the community. He also stated that they reconcile first-time offenders with their families, the police and the complainant.

The founder also insighted that Lifesong Kenya empowers the boys and young men in school and the community by instilling skills such as farming, poultry keeping and livestock rearing. This he said has helped avert them from engaging in social vices and crime.

During the event, KRA staff cooked and shared a meal with them, cleaned up and engaged in farming activities as they mingled with the youths. KRA also provided food donations and offered project support by handing over four dairy goats which were part of a sustainability project to empower the male youth economically.

The male youth lauded KRA for engaging the community besides being perceived as enforcers. They said that this program has enabled them learn and visualize the positive image of KRA as a tax agency.

KRA took advantage of the International Women’s Day to celebrate young men to embrace the gender equity. When we embrace equity, we embrace diversity, and we embrace inclusion. Equity also helps us to forge harmony and unity, and drive success for all. Equality is the goal, and equity is the means to get there. Through the process of equity, we can reach equality. Knowing that gender bias exists is not enough, action is therefore needed to level the playing field for both gender.

International Women’s Day is marked annually to inspire, support and unify gender parity activities globally. The celebrations also challenge gender biasness, support women's advancement and celebrates their achievements.

by Junne Ndanu.

Marketing & Communication.

CSR Volunteers Promote KRA’s Human Face through Mentorship

2022-10-18T08:42:07+00:00

By Felgona Ochieng & Faith Muthigani - KRA Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

KRA has rolled out its mentorship programme for students, with its inaugural session attracting more than 40 primary and secondary school learners in Soweto, Kibra. The learners were mentored in life skills, hygiene and health amongst other community engagement activities that demonstrate the role of KRA in not only economic development, but also social empowerment. The initiative is implemented under the Education Pillar by Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) volunteers.

Volunteerism in KRA

Volunteerism has been adopted as an enabler of CSR, where staff invest their time and resources to engage with the community on social-related causes aside from their tax collection duties. This demonstrates the human face of KRA and contributes towards empowering Kenyans. The mentorship initiative is a sub-set of the volunteerism programme under the Education Pillar and targets youth from underserved areas enrolled in primary, secondary and university levels. The programme is aligned to the school calendar and runs during school holidays.

Speaking during the event, KRA Chief Manager in charge of Public Relations and Communication, Ms Sheila Mugusia said: “The CSR volunteers are the KRA faces of humanity. Community engagement is an important programme for KRA as staff drop their tax collector tag and impart practical skills through community outreach using structures already put in place by the government.” 15 KRA staff participated in the inaugural session.

KRA Chief Manager in charge of Public Relations and Communication, Ms. Sheila Mugusia, awards one of the beneficiaries of the Janris Foundation. The Foundation supports the best performing children in school.

Ms Mugusia noted that mentorship is an important tool that complements parenting as it provides students with diverse experiences that empower them to face challenges both in school and in the community. She thanked the host, Janris Foundation, for inviting and partnering with KRA. The mentors were commended for their dedication and added that KRA is committed to showing its human face to the community.

Highlights of the Day

The mentees were divided into four groups for boys and girls in high school and boys and girls in primary school. The girls were mentored on life challenges, with menstrual hygiene and reproductive health taking up the biggest percentage of the half-day event. During the plenary session with parents, the importance of ending period stigmatisation was highly stressed. To curb this, the need to involve men in the menstrual hygiene subject was seen as a viable solution.

KRA Mentors pose for photo with primary school girls during one of the breakout sessions

Government institutions were also challenged to come up with policies that would ensure mentorship programmes are sustainable. This could be done through the government institutions partnering with Community Based Organisations (CBOs). Period poverty was also reported as a challenge among the mentees, with some being reduced to using their books as sanitary towels and others indulging in transactional sexual relations as a trade-off.

The boys talked about challenges of peer pressure, drugs, poor sanitary hygiene and lack of strong male mentors to guide them through life. The male volunteers suggested coming up with a programme that focuses on boys.

The CSR programme implements its initiatives through partnerships with likeminded institutions. For the success of the event, KRA partnered with various organisations including, Nivalishe pad, Do it with Boldness and Bold Phase Initiative who complimented the event as subject matter experts. These organizations are founded and led by youth who have undergone similar challenges as the students in Soweto.

The mentees were part of the needy students supported by the Janris Foundation, which helps underprivileged families in the area. The Foundation also took the opportunity to award the best performing students. KRA donated four boxes of sanitary towels from staff.

The session concluded with parents being urged to give their children a listening ear, besides providing food, shelter, education and clothing. KRA’s mentorship programme is designed to equip students with skills needed to attain self-leadership as they transition into employment and enter the tax bracket.

KRA Builds Five Classrooms for Taveta Primary School

2018-08-08T07:38:12+00:00

Pupils, teachers and parents of Taveta Primary School are a happy lot after KRA delivered iron sheets and cement to complete the construction of five classrooms.

The institution is one of the oldest schools in the region, with a population of about 2,000 pupils, most of them from poor families.

During the rainy season, the pupils are forced to contend with leaking roofs because the school?s infrastructure is dilapidated. This makes learning difficult.

The pupils were excited when KRA?s Southern Region Corporate Social Responsibility team, led by the region?s Chief Manager, Customs and Border Control, Mr John Bisonga, visited the school and donated the material. The contractor has promised to finish the work by August 2017. After completion, the 2,000 pupils will have a conducive learning environment.

The classrooms are part of KRA?s Corporate Social Responsibility projects aimed at giving back to the society by improving the social and economic welfare of Kenyans.

In September last year, KRA donated one million shillings from its CSR kitty for the project. Other organizations, including Mabati Rolling Mills, Mombasa Cement and Association of Second-hand Car Dealers also supported the initiative. KRA staff were also not left out and contributed money to make the project a reality.

KRA has over the years partnered with stakeholders, including private firms that share in one of its values of being helpful, to improve the lives of children from poor backgrounds and those with physical disabilities.