Kenya Revenue Authority X account hacked day after Kisumu man's tragic death

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has found itself at the center of a cybersecurity storm today, October 31, after its official X account, @KRACare, was hacked and repurposed.

The breach, confirmed by KRA via its corporate account @KRACorporate, saw the handle changed to 'Standx'.

In a bid to reassure the public, KRA issued a lighthearted yet urgent warning, featuring a stick-figure graphic with the caption, "Poleni wadau tumefanyiwa ile kitu, wametu hack, but tuna solve".

A playful apology for the breach while promising resolution.

The official @KRACare X (formerly Twitter) account has been hacked and its handle changed to "StandsX". Members of the public are strongly warned not to engage, share personal information, or send money to any messages or posts from this account, as they are fraudulent. The Kenya... pic.twitter.com/ZmoFsJp3S7

- Kenya Revenue Authority (@KRACorporate) October 31, 2025

The authority has urged citizens not to engage with the compromised account or share personal information, collaborating with X to reclaim the profile.

"Members of the public are strongly warned not to engage, share personal information, or send money to any messages or posts from this account, as they are fraudulent," read the statement in part.

The timing of this cyberattack could not be worse for KRA, as it coincides with growing public outrage over a tragic incident in Kisumu.

Just yesterday, October 30, a roads company engineer took his own life by jumping from the second floor of the KRA offices at Lake Basin Mall, a move reportedly linked to a staggering Sh300 million tax demand.

According to unverified reports, the man handed his car keys to security guards with instructions for his son to collect the vehicle before the fatal leap.

KRA gave an official statement stating that investigations are underway, but the lack of clarity on the circumstances has fuelled speculations.

The suicide case cast a shadow over the agency, with many questioning its handling of taxpayer burdens at a time when it struggles to protect its own digital assets.

Public reaction on X has been a mix of sarcasm and scepticism, with users seizing the opportunity to highlight the irony of a tax authority unable to safeguard its own account.

One user said "Good to see @KRACorporate knows how it feels to be robbed. Welcome to the taxpayers' daily experience."