About NTA
Background
The NTA is a national, independent, non-partisan organization focused on supporting good governance in Kenya through strengthening citizen to government accountability, and citizen-to-citizen accountability. The NTA represents all citizens as everyone pays taxes.
Mission
To promote accountable, effective and efficient collection and utilisation of public resources through research, citizen empowerment, enhancing public service delivery and partnership building.
Vision
A transparent, accountable and citizen-responsive government delivering quality services to all.
NTA strives to achieve its mission by:
- Demanding accountability from government and public institutions regarding the delivery of essential services and the management of devolved funds;
- Demanding accountability from citizens with regard to their obligations under the Kenya Revenue Authority Taxpayer's Charter;
- Providing information to citizens in response to their information needs;
- Compiling and submitting Citizen Report Cards to government on the management of devolved funds and provision of district-level services.
Mandate of the NTA
NTA supports good governance in Kenya (state capability, responsiveness and accountability) through strengthening citizen to government accountability, and citizen-to-citizen accountability.
The primary tool for demanding accountability from government, at both national and district levels, is by Citizen's Report Card. The NTA drafts and disseminate Citizen Report Cards listing information, in a clear and well structured way, on the quality of district services and the overall management of constituency-based devolved funds.
The devolved funds and district services covered by the NTA:
Devolved funds
1. Constituency Bursary Fund (CBF)
2. Local Authority Transfer Fund (LATIF)
3. Community Initiative Account (HIV/AIDS Fund)
4. Constituency Development Fund (CDF)
5. Poverty Eradication Loan Revolving Fund (PELRF)
6. Community Development Trust Fund (CDTF)
7. Water Services Trust Fund (WSTF)
8. Free Primary Education Fund (FPEF)
9. Road Maintenance Levy Fund (RMLF)
10. Youth Development Fund (YDF)
11. Rural Electrification Programme Levy Fund (REPLF)
12. National Fund for Disabled People (NFDP)
District Services
1. Health
2. Education
3. Water
4. Sanitation
5. Water
6. Electricity
7. Public Transport
8. Communication/ICT
9. Justice
10. Roads
11. Agricultural Extension
12. Land
13. Environment
14. Small Business Development
15. Security
How the NTA was established
On April 4th, 2006, a broad cross-section of Kenyans from a wide range of civil society organizations met at the Hotel in Nairobi at a Stakeholders Forum on Taxation and Accountability.
One of the main recommendations of this Forum was to establish a National Taxpayers Association (NTA) to improve the collection and use of taxes across the country. The impetus for this initiative was growing frustration among citizens and civil society organizations regarding the use of taxpayer's money in socio-economic development focused devolved funds, such as the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), Local Authority Transfer Fund (LATF), and the Constituency Bursary Fund (CBF), among others. It's from this that several stakeholders forum on taxation and accountability were held; and more than 350 stakeholders (representing more than 200 civil society, private sector and faith-based organizations) across Kenya were consulted to draft the NTA Governance Constitution. Following finalisation of the Governance Constitution, the NTA was formally established in September, 2007.