Kiambu revenue doubles to Sh5.45bn, says Wamatangi

Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi has attributed the rapid expansion of development projects in the county to improved local revenue collection and prudent use of public resources.

According to the Wamatangi, the county has nearly doubled its own-source revenue without increasing taxes or levies.

He said Kiambu’s annual own-source revenue collection has grown from about Sh2.9 billion before he took office to Sh5.45 billion in 2025, allowing the county government to significantly increase spending on development projects across health, infrastructure and emergency services.

“When I became governor, the county was putting together only Sh2 billion to change the lives of the people. When they did their best, it was Sh2.9 billion,” Wamatangi said on Wednesday during a meeting in the county.

“In one year alone, I did Sh5.4 billion, an increment of almost Sh3 billion in one year.”

The governor said the county is now targeting between Sh6.5 billion and Sh7.5 billion in revenue collection in the next financial year despite maintaining the same tax regime.

“This year, our target is Sh6.5 billion. Actually, we are targeting Sh7.5 billion, and there is no increment that we have done on taxes, levies or business licences,” he said.

According to the governor, the rise in revenue has enabled the county to expand its development budget from less than Sh800 million annually to nearly Sh5 billion.

“Before I came in, the development budget for Kiambu was less than Sh800 million. Today it is above Sh4.5 billion going to Sh5 billion,” he said.

Wamatangi said his administration achieved the revenue growth through tighter systems, technology and sealing loopholes that previously led to losses in county collections.

He also defended his administration’s spending discipline, revealing that he has never travelled abroad for benchmarking trips since assuming office four years ago.

“This is my fourth year, and I have never boarded a plane to go abroad to do benchmarking. There is technology, and we can make a phone call. That way we can save resources,” he said.

The governor said the additional resources are being directed towards improving healthcare services in the county, particularly in public hospitals.

“We are focusing across all spectrums, from building hospitals, equipping them and putting ambulances,” he said.

Wamatangi noted that when he took office, the county was spending millions leasing ambulances instead of owning them.

“Today every single one of our 14 Level Four hospitals has ambulances, and some have two,” he stated.

He further said the county has expanded access to specialised treatment, including dialysis services that were previously unavailable in county facilities.