The Homa Bay County government has enhanced its revenue collection efforts by deploying a new team of inspectorate and compliance officers.
The team includes the County Head of Inspectorate and Compliance Unit and heads for each of the county’s eight sub-counties. These officers have been seconded to the revenue department to bolster enforcement and ensure compliance with county laws related to revenue collection.
County Executive Committee Member for Governance, Administration, Communication, and Devolution, Grace Osewe, stated that the county government is determined to meet its revenue target of Ksh 1.5 billion for this financial year.
Addressing the newly appointed team, Osewe emphasized the importance of maintaining professionalism, discipline, and integrity in their roles to enhance service delivery for the residents of Homa Bay.
The officers were officially inaugurated on Monday at a ceremony held at the Governor’s restaurant, attended by CECM for Finance Solomon Obiero and Chief Officer for Administration and Devolution Isaac Ongiri.
Osewe highlighted Governor Gladys Wanga’s dedication to improving revenue administration and collection, noting that the county has entered several funding partnerships, including a key agreement with the World Bank. This partnership mandates the county to boost its revenue potential by 15 percent annually to continue receiving financial support.
“The Governor is dedicated to improving revenue collection, and this team will be crucial in ensuring we not only meet but exceed our targets,” Osewe remarked.
Chief Officer Ongiri commended the new officers and urged them to collaborate closely with the revenue department. He called on the officers to resist any temptation to breach regulations and to ensure all loopholes in the revenue system are sealed.
“Pilferages must be eradicated, and loopholes closed if we are to achieve the Ksh 1.5 billion target. Integrity and teamwork are essential as we work towards this goal,” Ongiri said.
CECM Obiero clarified the division of responsibilities between the collection and enforcement teams, noting that the officers will undergo training on using revenue collection systems and devices.
He underscored the need for a compassionate approach to revenue collection, reminding officers that they are dealing with the very people whose contributions support their employment.
Obiero emphasized that the conduct of the officers should reflect the core values of public service, including professionalism, honesty, and integrity.
He acknowledged that revenue mobilisation is a major challenge for counties and urged the officers to embody best practices in their work.
“The establishment of this team represents a significant step towards achieving better service delivery for the people of Homa Bay, supported by improved resource mobilisation and administration,” Obiero said.
“The County Government remains committed to ensuring that every shilling collected translates into better services.”
