Alex Kanyi
Alex Kanyi is a Partner in our Tax & Exchange Control, Dispute Resolution, and Corporate & Commercial paractice areas. Alex has worked in Kenya and Ireland for clients with operations in Europe, Asia and Africa. He has extensive experience in tax structuring, tax dispute resolution, international tax advisory, risk management, restructuring, legal audits, legal due diligence, company secretarial, acquisitions, corporate governance and regulatory compliance.

About Alex
About Alex
Alex has worked with KPMG East Africa in various capacities and was its Regulatory Services business lead in East Africa for six years up to 2022. He has also worked in KPMG Ireland in 2019-2020 as Manager, Legal Services. In 2022, Alex joined Kieti Law LLP as a Partner.
Credentials
Credentials
Education
- Masters of Laws (LL.M), International Trade and Investments Law, University of Nairobi (ongoing)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Law, Kenya School of Law
- Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) (2nd Class Honours, Upper), Moi University
- Certified Public Secretary
- Certified Public Accountant
- Certificate, Legal Audit, Kenya School of Law
- Certified Trainer, Africa Facilitators Accreditation Program, KPMG
Memberships
- Law Society of Kenya
- Institute of Certified Secretaries
- Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya
About Alex
Alex has worked with KPMG East Africa in various capacities and was its Regulatory Services business lead in East Africa for six years up to 2022. He has also worked in KPMG Ireland in 2019-2020 as Manager, Legal Services. In 2022, Alex joined Kieti Law LLP as a Partner.
Credentials
Education
- Masters of Laws (LL.M), International Trade and Investments Law, University of Nairobi (ongoing)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Law, Kenya School of Law
- Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) (2nd Class Honours, Upper), Moi University
- Certified Public Secretary
- Certified Public Accountant
- Certificate, Legal Audit, Kenya School of Law
- Certified Trainer, Africa Facilitators Accreditation Program, KPMG
Memberships
- Law Society of Kenya
- Institute of Certified Secretaries
- Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya
Experience
Australian mining company
Successfully represented an Australian mining company at the Tax Appeals Tribunal to defend an Income Tax assessment claim of USD 9.4 million
VAT assessment
Successfully represented a French based company at the Tax Appeals Tribunal and at the High Court to defend a VAT assessment of USD 2.1 million
Tax Appeals Tribunal
Successfully represented a Kenyan manufacturing company at the Tax Appeals Tribunal to defend a VAT assessment of USD 2.5 million
VAT assessment
Successfully represented an American multinational technology corporation to defend a VAT assessment at the Tax Appeals Tribunal.
Tax structuring
Advised another Japanese company on the tax structuring of an EPC contract to build an 83 MW geothermal power plant. The project was sponsored by JICA and was commissioned in 2022.
Motor vehicle assembling company
Advised a global motor vehicle assembling company based in France on optimising the tax implications on restructuring their operations in East Africa through an asset transfer deal.
Insurance company
Advised a local insurance company on the tax structuring for the carve-out of their life insurance business. Specifically advised on the tax considerations in the Portfolio Transfer Agreement, Business Transfer Agreement and the Business Separation Agreement and Corporate Restructuring Agreement.
Regional bank in Africa
Advised a tier one regional bank in Africa on the acquisition of a fund management and trustee firm
Buyer due diligence
Conducted a buyer due diligence and advised an Australian based company on acquisition of shares in a local dating company.
Voluntary liquidation
Carried out the first voluntary liquidation in Kenya under the new Insolvency Act in collaboration with the Official Receiver. The members voluntary liquidation was for a local telecommunications company.
Preference shares
Assisted a US based company on creation and allotment of preference shares after converting a USD 15 million loan to equity
News

A review of the report on the National Tax Policy: Taxing tomorrow towards economic resilience?
The draft National Tax Policy (Policy) was presented in Parliament on 27 April 2023 and is aimed at facilitating revenue mobilisation, income distribution, regulation of goods and...

An overview of the High Court's decision on the Finance Act, 2023: Was it just about the housing levy?
The Finance Bill, 2023 (Finance Bill) was passed by the National Assembly on 23 June 2023 and subsequently assented to by the President on 26 June 2023 thereby making it law, as the...

Unleashing the benefits of Kenya’s Tax Amnesty Programme: A quick guide
A webinar hosted by Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH) Kenya recently shed light on the intricacies of Kenya’s Tax Amnesty Programme (programme) introduced by the recently propagated Finance...

Salient features of the Kenya-Singapore bilateral investment treaty
The Kenya-Singapore Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT” came into force on 20 August 2023, five years after it was signed in 2018.

Draft Medium-Term Revenue Strategy
On 15 September 2023 the Government of Kenya published the draft Medium-Term Revenue Strategy (MTRS) for the financial years from 2024/25 to 2026/27, which aims to raise sufficient...

Benefitting from the Tax Amnesty Program: The Quick Steps
The Finance Act 2023 introduced a Tax Amnesty Program which is a great opportunity for Kenyan taxpayers.

Alex Kanyi joins Citizen TV to discuss the Fall of the Shilling
A discussion revolving around the challenges posed by currency depreciation in Kenya and the factors influencing it.

Comments on the Draft Medium-Term Revenue Strategy (MTRS)
CDH Kenay Partner Alex Kanyi discusses the Draft Medium-Term Revenue Strategy.

Finance Act 2023: Focus on the Housing Levy
The Finance Act 2023 came into force on 1 July 2023 despite efforts to suspend its implementation.

Kenya Finance Bill 2023
The long-awaited Finance Bill, 2023 (Bill) was finally tabled before the National Assembly on 4 May 2023.

Taxation of financial derivatives in Kenya
On 19 January 2023, the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning made The Income Tax (Financial Derivatives) Regulations, 2023. These Regulations are intended...

Tax Revenue Potential
Alex Kanyi, Partner in the Tax & Exchange Control Practice at CDH Kenya recently discussed the internal revenue potential of counties in Kenya.

Renewed efforts by the taxman to collect rental income tax
On 18 October 2022, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) issued a notice to the public of its intent to undertake a data collection exercise on rental properties within Nairobi City County...
Market recognition
Gold Standard Award for Young People, President’s Award
Silver Standard Award for Young People, President’s Award
Alex has been named as 1st runner up for Pupil Master of the Year, in the 5th Annual Nairobi Legal Awards

Market recognition
Gold Standard Award for Young People, President’s Award
Silver Standard Award for Young People, President’s Award
Alex has been named as 1st runner up for Pupil Master of the Year, in the 5th Annual Nairobi Legal Awards
Expertise

Tax & Exchange Control
Our experienced tax lawyers have in-depth understanding of the tax landscapes in South Africa and Kenya.

Corporate & Commercial Law
Our strong legal team is well versed in legislative matters and provides support across all commercial disciplines.

Dispute Resolution
Our lawyers work together with clients to find business-oriented dispute resolution solutions.