POOR COLLECTION

Kajiado revenue collection decentralised to subcounties

Semera said he targets to raise Sh2 billion in revenue this financial year

In Summary
  • After Governor Joseph Lenku was elected in 2017, the revenue rose from Sh700,000 to Sh1.5 billion in 2018 but fell to about Sh200,000 in the later years.
  • Cross-border truck drivers in Namanga have complained that they pay their taxes through private M-pesa accounts.
Kajiado finance executive Michael Semera made the changes on Friday, December 16.
BOOSTING COLLECTION: Kajiado finance executive Michael Semera made the changes on Friday, December 16.
Image: KURGAT MARINDANY.

The Kajiado government has decentralised revenue collection to subcounty levels.

The move aims to boost collection, which has evaded it for the last three years.

Finance executive Michael Semera on Friday said the changes are a departure from previous collections done at the county level.

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Semera said in the new arrangement, each subcounty will have its head of revenue collection in charge of revenue streams.

He said the subcounty heads of revenue will have stream supervisors and will report to the director of revenue.

The executive said the director of revenue will report to the chief officer, in the finance department.

Semera however, retained Vera Moraa as the director general of revenue and will be deputised by Joseph Nailole.

Felix Tirike is the new director of building plans, approvals and corporates, while Janet Sereu is the new director of compliance and enforcement.

Collins Masiea retains his position as director of ICT, while Alex Pulei remains the deputy director (ICT revenue).

Nickson Toto will be in charge of natural resources and will be assisted by Ezekiel Kima while Livingstone Lairumpe will be in charge of weights and measures.

The county targets revenue streams from permits, land rates, rent, user levies and charges and advertisements.

The subcounty heads of revenue, appointed by Semera are; George Morosua (East), Martha Nderu (North), James Mathuku (South), Agness Lesere (West), and Samuel Marona (Central).

Semera said he targets to raise Sh2 billion in revenue this financial year.

The county has been severally accused of allowing its revenue officials to pocket what they collect through their M-pesa accounts.

Cross-border truck drivers in Namanga have complained that they pay their taxes through private M-pesa accounts.

After Governor Joseph Lenku was elected in 2017, the revenue rose from Sh700,000 to Sh1.5 billion in 2018 but fell to about Sh200,000 in the later years.

The county blames the low collection on the Covid-19 pandemic.  

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