ADMINISTRATORS SENSITIZED ON CASHLESS REVENUE COLLECTION SYSTEM

The Ministry of Public Service and Administration today convened a meeting of all Sub County, Ward and Community Administrators to sensitize them on cashless revenue collection and the need to raise revenue collection in the County.

The consultative meeting also involved the Ministries of Finance and Planning and that of ICT, e-Government and Communication.

In her opening remarks, the CECM for Public Service and Administration Dr. Beatrice Sabana said e-Revenue collection is a key agenda of H.E. Governor Oparanya to ensure efficiency in revenue collection and seal revenue leaks. She noted that the government has invested in infrastructure across the county for effectiveness in the system and encouraged the administrators, who fall under her ministry, to own the e-Revenue collection process in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

“Due to the urgent need to seal any existing loophole in this system, you are expected to map out all business targets at the grassroots level,” she said.

CECM for ICT, e-Government & Communication Dr. George Lutomia said as an enabler ministry, the departments of ICT & e-Government were working around the clock, closely with other stakeholders, to realize smooth implementation of the system. Dr. Lutomia said the system was in operation at the Kakamega County Referral Hospital and will soon be spread out to other health facilities in sub counties. He reminded the administrators that e-Revenue collection was not a strange idea in the country.

“We also pay for our electricity and water bills electronically and just like the migration to digital platform from the analogue television was resisted, with this too we expect resistance but we must be the agents of the change we need for our society to prosper,” he said.

Mr. Geoffrey Omulayi the CECM for Finance said the county government has to raise its own revenue in order to provide essential services to the people. He called on the administrators to ensure members of the public are well sensitized on the need to pay taxes electronically as well as the importance of the system.

Chief Officer for Treasury Mr. John Imbogo noted that revenue collection has been significantly increasing since the cashless system was introduced in the county. He said Kakamega county was capable of raising Shs. 2.5 billion annually in revenue if the cashless system was fully utilized.

His sentiments were echoed by service delivery Chief Officer Amb. James Ochami.

The administrators were also taken through the phases of revenue collection starting from the Assessment, Verification and Payment stages by the ERP Project Manager Mr. Phanuel Musasia.

In attendance also was the Head of Human Resource departmemt Dr. Dominic Muteshi and the Head of Administration Mr. Wilson Yaola.