The country’s leading telco has launched a new digital platform that will enable counties digitise all their services in one place providing a single, citizen access channel to the residents.
Dubbed 'myCounty App', it will allow users select their county of residence, linking them to the specific county’s services for processing of requests.
The platform will include payment for county services, revenue management systems, a citizen reporting and engagement tool and solutions around agriculture, health, utility bills and SME programs.
In addition, all users can also access services from other non-residential counties which will enable payment of parking fees and other common fees.
The Telco has tapped on Makueni County as the first base launch with further plans to gradually include all the 47 counties in coming months.
Commenting on the drive, Makueni governor Mutula Kilonzo said this is a timely and essential tool in the transformation drive, as there is need to adopt current ways of doing things.
“It is evident that we cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used to create them. More than its convenience and accessibility, this app is a tool for breaking through barriers, challenging the status quo and re-imagining what is possible,” Kilonzo said.
He further noted that the app will foster county leaderships and inspire citizens to be bold and visionary in their thinking and to embrace the power of change to create a better county for themselves and generations to come.
According to Safaricom’s CEO Peter Ndegwa, the service will seek to ease access and payment of county services for the public, saving them from having to visit county offices for manual payments.
“Counties will benefit from more convenient, 24/7 access to their services, increased revenue collection and better visibility of revenue collection and performance,” Ndegwa said.
"We have developed a ‘gateway’ that integrates services from all county providers in one digital channel. Counties will also benefit from additional capabilities including revenue management, cash and bank reconciliation, credit control and debt management, and business intelligence systems.”
Besides county services, the app will also provide a ‘Sema Na Governor’ feature, empowering residents to engage their governors or report issues.
It will further provide key County and emergency services including requests for fire, ambulance, police and more at the tap of a button.
The ‘myCounty’ services will be accessible through a USSD short code, Android and iPhone App for all counties, and a mini-app on the M-PESA Super App.
