Alex Kanyi
Alex Kanyi is a Partner in our Tax & Exchange Control, Dispute Resolution, and Corporate & Commercial practice 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
Languages
Languages
- English
- Swahili
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
Languages
- English
- Swahili
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
Temporary relief: Supreme Court suspends the Court of Appeal’s declaration of the Finance Act, 2023 as unconstitutional
The Supreme Court of Kenya (SC) has, through a ruling issued on 20 August 2024, suspended the Court of Appeal’s (CoA) judgment delivered on 31 July 2024, which had declared the entire...
I am not their keeper: An analysis of the impact of non-compliance with electronic tax invoice requirements and Section 17 of the VAT Act on the part of the seller or landlord in real estate transactions
Gone are the days when a buyer or tenant of real estate property only worried about the purchase price or rent. Tax compliance, on the part of the seller, now seems to be a burden...
Obtaining Kenyan citizenship: What you need to know
Citizenship is the legal relationship between an individual and the state. Citizens of a country are entitled to certain privileges or rights. A citizen is obligated to perform certain...
Public participation is the fulcrum upon which the constitutionality of legislation rests: An analysis of the recent Court of Appeal decision nullifying the Finance Act, 2023
The Court of Appeal of Kenya (CoA), through its judgment issued on 31 July 2024, declared the entire Finance Act, 2023 (Act) unconstitutional. Details of what was contained in the...
The Kenyan High Court delivers a judgment on the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023 and the related acts
The Social Health Insurance Act, 2023, the Primary Health Care Act, 2023 and the Digital Health Act, 2023 (the acts) were enacted to realise the right to the highest attainable standard...
Finance Bill 2024 as the bill nears enactment
Tax & Exchange control Partner, Alex Kanyi joined Nairobi senator, Edwin Sifuna, Chair of the Defence Committee, Nelson Koech and Chair, Finance & Planning Committee, Kuria Kimani...
Webinar Recording | Kenya Budget Speech for the fiscal year 2024-2025
This morning CDH Tax & Exchange Control Partner's Alex Kanyi and Lena Onyango were joined by Ruth Kendagor, Head Researcher at Institute of Public Finance, and Julians Amboko, Business...
WATCH | Tax proposals outlined in the recently unveiled Finance Bill 2024
On 16 May 2024, CDH Kenya hosted a breakfast forum for a diverse group of industry leaders from sectors including banking and finance, private equity, logistics, betting, and education.
Highlights of Finance Bill 2024 that will shape the future of Kenya
Alex Kanyi, Partner in our Tax & Exchange Control practice joined a panel of leading experts, Mulle Musau, Diana Gichengo, and Frankline Mukwanja on the DayBreak on Citizen TV Kenya...
Webinar recording | The Advent of eTIMS Addressing the pain points
Our CDH Kenya team held an exclusive insightful discussion on the Advent of eTIMS: Addressing the pain points.
LISTEN | Tax proposals outlined in the recently unveiled Finance Bill 2024
On 16 May 2024, CDH Kenya hosted a breakfast forum for a diverse group of industry leaders from sectors including banking and finance, private equity, logistics, betting, and education.
An Analysis of the Affordable Housing Bill, 2023 vis a vis the High Court's Judgment and the ruling of the Court of Appeal
On 28 November 2023, The High Court of Kenya held that the housing levy as framed in Finance Act, 2023 is unconstitutional.
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.