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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

Value-added tax in land transactions: Lessons from the Sayani Investments case
Tax & Exchange Control

Value-added tax in land transactions: Lessons from the Sayani Investments case

The charging of value-added tax (VAT) on the sale of land, whether developed or undeveloped, has long been a subject of contention in Kenya’s tax regime. In the recent case of Sayani...
The fine line between debt and equity: An analysis of the Aquavita case and its impact on structuring redeemable preference shares
Tax & Exchange Control

The fine line between debt and equity: An analysis of the Aquavita case and its impact on structuring redeemable preference shares

Redeemable preference shares are often used by companies during fundraising and have certain tax advantages, depending on how they are structured.
Same script, different cast: An analysis of the proposed Tax Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 and Tax Procedures (Amendment) (No.2) Bill, 2024 in Kenya
Tax & Exchange Control

Same script, different cast: An analysis of the proposed Tax Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 and Tax Procedures (Amendment) (No.2) Bill, 2024 in Kenya

In response to the current economic landscape and the need for sustainable public finance, National Treasury has proposed significant amendments aimed at enhancing tax compliance,...
Finally, some white smoke: An analysis of the recent Supreme Court of Kenya’s decision on the Finance Act, 2023
Tax & Exchange Control

Finally, some white smoke: An analysis of the recent Supreme Court of Kenya’s decision on the Finance Act, 2023

Over the last year or so, the Kenyan tax environment has been uncertain, not only because of protests and/or demonstrations that resulted in the withdrawal of the Finance Bill, 2024,...
Rethinking staff outsourcing contracts from a tax perspective
Tax & Exchange Control

Rethinking staff outsourcing contracts from a tax perspective

On 30 August 2024, the Tax Appeals Tribunal (Tribunal) delivered a judgment in Appeal E433 of 2024 (judgment), in which it held that the reimbursement of staff costs made by a charitable...

All articles by Alex
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.
Highlights of Finance Bill 2024 that will shape the future of Kenya
Tax & Exchange Control

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
Tax & Exchange Control

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.

All videos by Alex
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.
Renewed efforts by the taxman to collect rental income tax
Tax & Exchange Control

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...

All podcasts by Alex

Market recognition

  • 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 has been named as 1st runner up for Pupil Master of the Year, in the 5th Annual Nairobi Legal Awards.

Market recognition

  • 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 has been named as 1st runner up for Pupil Master of the Year, in the 5th Annual Nairobi Legal Awards.

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