The county government of Kakamega will restructure its departments to boost revenue collection.
Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has said they seek to enhance the performance of all revenue streams. He said they will have to seal gaps in the county financial system and strengthen it.
The county chief spoke on Tuesday during his weekly updates on revenue collection. He was accompanied by executives, chief officers, advisers and subcounty administrators.
On August 6, the governor sent all the 143 revenue clerks on 60-day compulsory leave. In their places, he deployed 400 community administrators under the supervision of executives. The suspension ends next week.
Oparanya said some of the suspended revenue clerks will be redeployed in other departments while the wayward ones will face disciplinary measures.
"A committee will soon be constituted to expeditiously process all the cases for action," he said.
He commended the senior county officials for increasing revenue since taking over the function from revenue clerks.
"I'm happy to hear positive comments out there about our successful strategies in revenue collection. We will do much better if we infuse preventive corruption measures as advised by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission," Oparanya said.
"Virtually all teams deployed at subcounties, hospitals and urban areas reported an exponential revenue increase with stock rings, single business permits, health facilities and slaughterhouses raking in the bulk of collections."
He urged the County Revenue Agency headed by Beatrice Memba to prepare to take over collection functions with a clear focus on staff, tools and systems.
Earlier at the county headquarters, Oparanya received and inspected a fleet of double cabin pickups acquired by his government to boost service delivery.
Also present were county secretary and head of County Public Service Jacinta Odhiambo, deputy county secretary Joshua Kutekha, chief of staff Robert Sumbi and county attorney Moses Sande.
(Edited by F'Orieny)
