Meru County is digitising all its revenue data, to enable cashless payment of fees and licenses under its 24 income streams.
Meru County Revenue Board (MCRB), Chief Executive Officer, Edward Macharia, said the County’s revenue collections are expected to triple to Sh1 billion after all income streams are added to the new cashless system.
He noted that his office is working on digitising the land rates and plot rates, which are largely manual.
Macharia revealed that digitalising the land rates and plot rates will only be possible after the lands department finalises with the County valuation roll.
The official noted that the automation of revenue payment systems had greatly reduced revenue leakages.
“In the current Financial Year, we are eyeing to raise up to Sh600 million up from Sh384 million in the previous year. This is because the new revenue system has improved features that enable real-time monitoring of payments and personnel,” the CEO said.
In the cashless system, all service fees are paid, including parking, single business permits, cess, market fees, property rent, advertising fees, branding fees, and distribution fees, among others, which are paid for via a USSD code.
The CEO noted that the revenue system will give visibility to defaulters, easing enforcement of revenue collection across the County.
He said the Board alone is capable of collecting more than Sh1 billion after the full digitisation of land rates.
In the previous year, the Meru County government’s own-source revenue, including hospital fees and alcoholic drinks licenses, stood at sh1.03 billion.
“The Board is owed more than Sh500 million in land rates alone. This is because it has been difficult to enforce payment without an updated valuation roll. Automation of land rates will significantly boost local revenue,” he said.
Janice Kainyu, a trader, noted that digitising revenue collection will save traders a lot of time and costs incurred travelling to pay for business permits.
“We could take a whole day initially, travelling to Meru town to pay for a business permit, this initiative will really save us,” she said.
She said that the move will help boost revenue collected within the county, and in turn, more development projects will be initiated.
By Muguongo Judy
