KPMG East Africa has moved to strengthen its Tax and Regulatory Services practice, announcing the appointment of two new partners and an associate director, effective November 11, 2026. The appointments bring a blend of regulatory insight and Big Four experience to the firm’s regional leadership.
The firm confirmed that Fred Omondi and Fredrick Kimotho have joined as Partners, while Kennedy Okoyo has been named Associate Director.
According to the firm, the appointments are designed to deepen its capabilities in handling complex cross-border engagements and expand its footprint across the region.
“These appointments bring extensive regional experience across international tax, transfer pricing, tax disputes, customs and indirect taxation, strengthening the firm’s capacity to support complex client engagements, develop its people and grow our East Africa Tax practice,” KPMG said in a statement.
The appointments come at a time when multinational businesses operating in East Africa are facing an increasingly complex regulatory environment, characterised by heightened scrutiny from revenue authorities and evolving international tax standards such as the OECD’s Pillar Two framework.
The strategic nature of the hires is underscored by the backgrounds of the incoming leadership. Fred Omondi, who brings over 23 years of experience, previously served at the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) before moving into the private sector.
His expertise spans corporate tax, transfer pricing and tax controversy, areas where having a former regulator’s perspective is often highly valued by clients navigating disputes.
Similarly, Fredrick Kimotho joins the partnership with over 12 years of experience and a strong background in tax policy. He has previously worked with the National Treasury and the National Assembly on legislative reviews and tax reforms, providing the firm with direct insight into the policy-making process.
Kennedy Okoyo, appointed Associate Director, specialises in indirect taxation, including VAT and customs. His experience includes a stint with the World Bank Group in Washington, D.C., working on the Paying Taxes indicator, which adds a global policy perspective to the firm’s local customs practice.
The firm described the appointments as an investment in strengthening its client-facing expertise.
“They bring deep technical experience and a strong track record of helping organizations navigate complex tax and regulatory challenges,” KPMG stated regarding the new appointees. The firm further emphasised that the new partners would play a key role in “developing its workforce” and maintaining its competitive edge in the regional market.
KPMG East Africa’s recruitment of former revenue authority officials mirrors a broader global trend among the Big Four accounting firms.
As tax authorities worldwide intensify enforcement and cross-border disputes rise, firms are increasingly looking to former government officials to lead their tax controversy and dispute resolution practices.
In the United States, KPMG LLP recently hired Douglas O’Donnell, the former Acting Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), to co-lead its Tax Controversy and Dispute Resolution group within its Washington National Tax practice. O’Donnell’s appointment was linked to helping clients navigate an “unprecedented increase in cross-border tax disputes” and enhanced enforcement efforts.
By bringing in former KRA and Treasury officials such as Omondi and Kimotho, KPMG East Africa appears to be adopting a similar strategy locally, positioning itself to help clients anticipate regulatory changes and resolve disputes by leveraging experience within Kenya’s revenue and policy-making institutions.
The appointments are effective immediately. The existing leadership team, led by Regional Head Peter Kyambadde, remains in place, with the new partners integrating into the current structure.
