[PHOTOS] NMS launches new revenue system powered by taxman

Nairobi residents will from December start paying for county services using a new integrated revenue services digital platform.

The Nairobi Revenue System will give residents reliable access to services including business processes, parking, fire services, land rates, development control and social services.

The NRS will be rolled out in phases to replace the Local Authority Integrated Financial Management System (Laifoms) that has been in existence since 2014.

Speaking during the launch on Friday, Nairobi Metropolitan Service Director General Lt General Mohammed Badi noted NRS is a customer centric system that will be convenient for citizens through easy and reliable access to services.

He explained that after the transfer of functions, there was a need to streamline the functions as deficiency was witnessed, thus affecting revenue collection systems, accountability and security.

"The existing data was incomplete and some cases lack credible data and in the review of that NMS, the government and KRA have worked together to bring the new integrated system available both online through the website Nairobi revenue system," Badi added.

The NMS boss said the new system will help raise Nairobi to another level and do away with mismanagement.

To access services offered by NMS, all new applications must be processed on NRS.

KRA commissioner Mburu Githii highlighted that the taxman has focused and ensured that through NRS, Nairobi has a credible revenue system.

"As KRA, we have also ensured that Nairobi has credible data that can be used to determine who owns properties and also who do businesses in Nairobi," he explained.

KRA was officially appointed the principal county revenue collector on March 16 as part of the agreement in the Deed of Transfer of functions of the county to the national government.

Also under the Deed of Transfer, several officers were seconded from the national government and deployed to KRA to undertake revenue collection services.

Collection improved by Sh1.2 billion for the financial year ending June 30, despite the Covid-19 pandemic where Sh9.7 billion was collected.

Being the first full year with KRA in charge of collection, the revenue improved compared to Sh8.5 billion in FY 2019-20

Going further, the commissioner also noted that KRA has put in effort to ensure there is an accountable workforce subjected to a credible performance and framework that will boost revenue collection.

Mburu noted that the new system will address the challenge of having multiple revenue systems that are disjointed yet used for revenue collection.

Nairobi County Revenue System will have integrated customer touchpoints which use USSD, web portal and a mobile application and and offer online services and simplified customer interfaces to cater for different demographics.

It will also have real-time integration with financial systems such as banks and mobile money operators. It will generate real-time financial reports.

Further, the new system will have an inbuilt payment system that enables a customer to make payments on the system through various payment methods including mobile money, cards and bank transfers.