ASSEMBLY REVIEWS COUNTY REVENUE AGENCY’S PERFORMANCE
Own Source Revenue remains a key plank in realization of H.E FCPA Governor Fernandes Barasa’s six point development pillars for Kakamega County.
In exercising its oversight role, the Kakamega County Assembly Committee on Finance led by Khalaba Ward MCA Hon. Bonface Osanga interrogated the County’s Own Source Revenue (OSR) mobilization done by Kakamega County Revenue Agency (KCRA) in the last Fiscal Year (FY) 2022/2023, where they sought to understand why the County’s set OSR targets have never been met.
In the just ended FY 2022/2023 the County generated Shs 1.3 Billion growing by seven percent over the previous period’s collection of Shs 1.2 Billion; and has this Financial Year been budgeted at Shs 2.2 Billion out of the total Shs 17.68 Billion budget.
The CECM for Finance and Economic Planning CPA Livingstone Imbayi urged KCRA staff to maintain focus in revenue mobilization even as they seek new terms of engagement with the County Government of Kakamega while his counterpart at the Public Service and Administration docket Mr Lawrence Omuhaka took the participants through the process of contract renewal for the employed staff who are employed on a 3 year contractual tenure.
The Chairman of the Finance Committee Hon. Bonface Osanga on his part urged for cooperation between KCRA and the Department of Health Services in managing revenue collection in health facilities. The MCAs’ further commended the Agency staff for the consistent growth registered over the years and challenged them to meet this financial year’s revenue target. KCRA is focusing on Land Rates and Liquor Licensing among others to sustain the growth momentum as compared to Barter collections which account for only three percent of the total OSR.
KCRA CEO CPA Aggrey Musindalo stated that the Agency is focusing on large revenue streams as it plans to phase out collections from small barter traders, gradually.
The meeting resolved on observance of Mwongozo guidelines on roles separation between CEOs and Board Chairmen of County agencies and Corporation’s. Mwongozo has clearly guided on this to avoid Board dynamics which can precipitate conflicts.
KCRA CEO was advised to ensure the Agency manages its ICT component fully which include budgetary provisions, correspondence & instructions to service providers such as Safaricom, Sense Technologies and system administration roles as that is the Agency’s legal mandate.
The Committee further requested KCRA to arrange for its interrogation of the new revenue management system
Present were Majority Leader Hon. Philip Maina, County Attorney CS Vivian Mmbaka, CEO County Public Service Board CS Catherine Otenyo, KCRA Board of Directors led by their Chairman Dr. Martin Mudambo, CBEF Secretary Rev. William Ouya, Chief Officers, Mumias Municipal Manager CS Christopher Ombunya, Directors and KCRA staff.