Report: Kiambu sets record, nets Sh540m more revenue
By Rawlings, March 7, 2024
Kiambu county raised Sh540 million more during the first six months of the current fiscal year compared to a similar period in the previous year.
County Government Budget Implementation Review Report for the First Half of 2022/23 by the Controller of Budget (CoB) shows Governor Kimani Wamatangi raised Sh1.64 billion as Own Source Revenue (OSR) between July and December 2023.
Amount represented an increase of 49 per cent compared to Sh1.1 billion realised in a similar period in the financial year ended June 2023.
The highest revenue stream of Sh562.63 million was from the Facility Improvement Fund (FIF), contributing to 34 per cent of the total OSR receipts during the period.
The report, which was released last Thursday shows that during the period under review, county governments raised a total of Sh19.95 billion from OSR.
Own source revenue comprised Sh13.55 billion from ordinary own sources of revenue and Sh6.40 billion from FIF/Appropriation in Aid (A-I-A).
CoB Margaret Nyakang’o in her latest report further shows that the realised own source revenue accounted for 24.9 per cent of the aggregate OSR annual target for FY 2023/24 of Sh80.2 billion and represented an increase of 3.5 per cent from Sh13.11 billion generated in similar period of FY 2022/23.
Seals loopholes
Kiambu raised OSR including Sh562.63 million as FIF, Sh1.08 billion ordinary OSR and Sh15.92 million from other revenues. The total funds available for budget implementation during the period amounted to Sh8.24 billion.
Report states that the increase in OSR may be attributed to the implementation of an automated revenue management system, which has helped seal loopholes, with a focus on revenue streams like physical planning, land rates, vehicle parking, hospital fees and single business permits.
“Provision of waivers on tax arrears, and public sensitisation on the importance of revenue payment, including reminders through sending of bulk SMS, have also contributed to revenue collection efficiency,” the report.
In addition, in the first half of FY 2023/24, pending bills amounting to Sh254.33 million were settled, consisting of Sh106.77 million for recurrent expenditure and Sh147.56 million for development programmes.
Report further shows that Murang’a is among the top counties from Central Kenya with increased OSR.