REVENUE
Kisumu County has collected Sh1.4 billion of own source revenue during the financial year ending June 30. The figure is up from Sh1.2 billion collected during the 2022-2024 financial year signifying a 22% growth. Kisumu Deputy Governor Mathews Owili attributed the growth to automation of revenue collection in the county which has enhanced efficiency and transparency.
The system managed by Safaricom, he said, has helped to seal loopholes in revenue collection which hitherto saw the county lose millions of shillings. Dr Owili noted that the increased revenue will see the devolved unit scale up investments in roads, healthcare, water and bursaries to enable needy children to go to school.
The county government, he added, was targeting additional revenue from land rates asking area residents to pay up to enable the government to improve service delivery. Other areas include markets where the county government will enforce specific market days for each facility to maximise revenue collection.
Kisumu County Revenue Board Chairman Hezron McObewa said a new valuation roll has been developed which once operational will see the county government net an additional Sh2 billion through land rates. “The document is ready but some people went to court so we are still waiting for the outcome of the case. However, we are engaging them and other stakeholders so that we can roll out the new rates,” Dr McObewa said.
This financial year, he added the board has set a target of Sh 3 billion adding that the new valuation roll will come in handy to meet the target. County Executive Committee Member (CECM) in charge of Finance and Economic Planning George Okong’o lauded members of the public for complying with the county revenue requirements which was behind the growth in collections.
“An increase of 22% represents a significant change and we want to urge members of the public to continue supporting the activities of the Kisumu County Revenue Board because they are the persons responsible for driving this change,” he said.
Adoption of a cashless system, he added, was one of the strategies deployed by the county government to ensure that all the money collected is safe. Okong’o assured area residents that the county government will not increase taxes but will continue to enhance efficiency in revenue collection to ensure that the set targets are met.
