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Alex Kanyi

Partner

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.

+254 724 498 999
alex.kanyi@cdhlegal.comNairobi
Alex Kanyi

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

Is a cash tax refund application dead on arrival? Lessons for the Finance Bill, 2025
Tax & Exchange Control

Is a cash tax refund application dead on arrival? Lessons for the Finance Bill, 2025

The Tax Appeals Tribunal (Tribunal) has recently issued a significant decision in Nabo Africa Funds v Commissioner of Domestic Taxes (Tax Appeal E334 of 2024) KETAT 141 (KLR) (21 February...
Court of Appeal clarifies sale of commercial buildings is subject to VAT, defying land and attachment principle
Tax & Exchange Control

Court of Appeal clarifies sale of commercial buildings is subject to VAT, defying land and attachment principle

In a landmark decision in Kenya Revenue Authority v Ndegwa KECA 510 (KLR) ( David Ndegwa Case ) the Court of Appeal has clarified the application of value-added tax (VAT) to commercial...
High Court clarifies legal recourse for income tax exemption rejections
Tax & Exchange Control

High Court clarifies legal recourse for income tax exemption rejections

Tax exemptions are provisions in tax laws that relieve certain individuals, organisations or transactions from paying specific taxes. They are often granted to promote social and economic objectives,...
2025 Payslip Overhaul: Housing Levy and SHIF Become Allowable Deductions as NSSF Contributions Surge
Tax & Exchange Control

2025 Payslip Overhaul: Housing Levy and SHIF Become Allowable Deductions as NSSF Contributions Surge

This alert outlines significant changes to your 2025 payslips, focusing on the introduction of allowable deductions for the Affordable Housing Levy (AHL) and Social Health Insurance...
Disposal of seized motor vehicles by banks, through auction, is subject to VAT
Banking, Finance & Projects

Disposal of seized motor vehicles by banks, through auction, is subject to VAT

In a landmark ruling in KCB Bank Kenya Limited v Commissioner Legal Services & Board Co-ordination (Tax Appeal E023 of 2024) , the Tax Appeals Tribunal (Tribunal) held that value-added...

All articles by Alex
Webinar Recording | Tax outlook 2025: What's next for Kenya's tax landscape
Tax & Exchange Control

Webinar Recording | Tax outlook 2025: What's next for Kenya's tax landscape

Alex Kanyi and Lena Onyango, Partners in the Tax & Exchange Control practice hosted a webinar titled "Tax outlook 2025: What's next for Kenya's tax landscape"
How can tax policy formulation help address issues affecting African women directly?
Tax & Exchange Control

How can tax policy formulation help address issues affecting African women directly?

In the latest episode of our CDH Conversations Empowerment Podcast Series, Lena and Alex, explore how tax policies can address economic and social challenges affecting African women.
Finance Bill 2024 as the bill nears enactment
Tax & Exchange Control

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
Tax & Exchange Control

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
Tax & Exchange Control

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.

All videos by Alex
Podcast | How can tax policy formulation help address issues affecting African women directly?
Tax & Exchange Control

Podcast | How can tax policy formulation help address issues affecting African women directly?

In the latest episode of our CDH Conversations Empowerment Podcast Series, Lena and Alex, explore how tax policies can address economic and social challenges affecting African women.
LISTEN | Tax proposals outlined in the recently unveiled Finance Bill 2024
Tax & Exchange Control

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
Tax & Exchange Control

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
Tax & Exchange Control

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
Tax & Exchange Control

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.

All podcasts by Alex

Market recognition

  • Chambers Global 2025 ranked Alex as "Up & Coming" for Tax.  
  • 2025 ITR World Tax Rankings ranked Alex as 'Highly Regarded' in general corporate tax and tax controversy in Kenya.
  • Gold Standard Award for Young People, President’s Award
  • Silver Standard Award for Young People, President’s Award
  • Alex was named Commercial Lawyer of the Year, 2023 , at the 6th Annual Nairobi Legal Awards
  • Alex was named as 1st runner up for Pupil Master of the Year, in the 5th Annual Nairobi Legal Awards.

Market recognition

  • Chambers Global 2025 ranked Alex as "Up & Coming" for Tax.  
  • 2025 ITR World Tax Rankings ranked Alex as 'Highly Regarded' in general corporate tax and tax controversy in Kenya.
  • Gold Standard Award for Young People, President’s Award
  • Silver Standard Award for Young People, President’s Award
  • Alex was named Commercial Lawyer of the Year, 2023 , at the 6th Annual Nairobi Legal Awards
  • Alex was named as 1st runner up for Pupil Master of the Year, in the 5th Annual Nairobi Legal Awards.

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