KSH 5.8 BILLION, KAKAMEGA COUNTY’S OWN SOURCE REVENUE POTENTIAL – STUDY REVEALS

Kakamega County has a potential of raising Ksh 5.8 Billion in Own Source Revenue (OSR) annually. This was revealed on Tuesday during a collaborative workshop, between the County Government and officials from the Commission of Revenue Allocation (CRA), to disseminate a comprehensive study carried out on the County’s own source revenue potential and tax gap.

The meeting that was organized by the Commission in partnership with World Bank, also deliberated on strategies that can be devised by Counties to aid in revenue enhancement towards realization of their OSR targets. The frontier streams include; Advertisement fees, Single Business Permits, Property Rates, Cess and Hospital user fees.

CPA Livingstone Imbayi the CECM for Finance, Economic Planning and ICT, graced the forum on behalf of the Governor FCPA Fernandes Barasa and expressed the County’s committment to achieve the OSR target leveraging on the availability of the competent Revenue Officers at the CS CPA Christopher Ombunya’s led Kakamega County Revenue Agency (KCRA). He emphasized the Governor’s directive to all County Executives to enhance revenue in their respective home areas.

Homabay, Taita Taveta, West Pokot and Uasin Gishu counties will also host CRA Commissioners; Ms Hadija Juma, Dr. Jalang’o Midiwo, Dr Isabel Waiyaki for similar forums.

Commissioner Hadija who is in-charge of OSR at CRA implored the County to meet the revenue target so as to benefit from a Ksh 50 Million World Bank grant. CRA defines and enhances revenue sources for both national and county governments and recommends financing matters for both levels of government.

Also in attendance was Kakamega County Assembly Finance Committee Chairperson Hon. Bonface Osanga, Chief Officer for Economic Planning CPA Samson Otieno, KCRA Board Chair Martin Mudambo, Directors and KCRA staff.