Nairobi County Government staff leading major revenue streams concluded a week-long workshop in Mombasa County to review the 2022/2023 revenue performance, Financial year 2023/2024 Own Source Revenue targets, alignment of revenue targets to county sectors, development of revenue enhancement strategies and development of revenue administration work plan.
while taking the County Executive Committee Members and County Chief Officers present through the 5 day compiled presentation on the set revenue targets and strategies, Chief Officer for Revenue Administration, Wilson Gakuya shared that the responsibility of owning the document and achieving the targets starts from the top level.
“We are here to embrace the presentation,discuss and share everyone’s input on whether we are all aligned in our respective sectors, so that at the end of this workshop we have a document on the way forward. It was prudent to have an all-inclusive meeting so that we can be able to engage one another,” he stated.
“We need the input from all sectors. Revenue is in the ground, and the team here are the ones who will be able to tap into all the areas in their respective sub counties and wards.”
County Executive Member for Green Nairobi, Ibrahim Nyangoya said ” One of the issues mentioned is having a conversation on database to meet the target and even surpass it and after having gone through the presentation, I can assure you, the Sub County Administration are very resourceful, they ensure Coordination and the information they have is accurate. We need their full support and facilitation. “
County Executive for Inclusivity, Public Participation and Customer Service, Dr. Anastasia Nyalita remarked on the presentation and said, “If we are aiming for Kes 20B, we can not be doing the same thing, same strategies and expecting different results.”
She shared that one of her sub sectors, Nairobi City Culture, Arts and Tourism, is the highest earning revenue for the country.
“We also need to strategize on negotiating with the National Government to give us a share of what is generated from Nairobi tourism.”
County Executive for Business and Hustler Opportunities, Maureen Njeri said that “We should strive to also focus on other incomes because the rest of the revenue streams have always been focused on. If we do not, it will bring laxity on the side of collection, we can not just focus on just a few sectors, let us change the narrative, and strategize to include other incomes. “
County Executive for Talent, Skills and Care , Brian Mulama emphasised the need for a system that is working and an accurate database to enable correct information to be captured and new businesses are inputed.
“Human resource is very key. A motivated staff member will be a very key strategist in ensuring revenue is collected optimally. That human resource also has to be complimented by the structure in place. When we are discussing on improving revenue at ward levels through the coordination of the Sub County Administrators and ward administrators, then all the various Sectors represented at that ward can be able to chip in and customise the County strategies discussed at this workshop” said County Executive for Mobility and Works, Patrick Mbogo.
County Chief Officer for Inclusivity, Public Participation, and Customer Service and Ag. Chief Officer for Boroughs, Administration, and Personnel Lydia Mathia shared that revenue is collected from the ward, and the most critical people for revenue collection are ward administrators.
Ms. Mathia said, “The people who know the terrain of the ground are ward administrators, even Sub County Administrators rely on their information. This is a two-step journey, guarantee the Kes 9B while chasing the Kes 11B. We must not go down in revenue. “
She further added that in Nairobi County, there are many numbers where revenue is collected, from *647# to bank account numbers, but a lot of Nairobians still don’t know that they have the autonomy to pay their bills from the comfort of their homes.
“One of the greatest investments we can make for revenue collection is public communication. We need to have a robust campaign that needs to be consistent and persistent. “
Head of Nairobi Pay, Anastasia Githuba,stated that the Sectors have the capacity to drive revenue by sharing data to achieve the set target and even surpass it.
