Kakamega County Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has said the introduction of a cashless revenue collection system and employment of additional staff has increased revenue base for the devolved unit to undertake development projects in the region.
Oparanya said the County had set its revenue target at two billion shillings this fiscal year to be able to undertake other development programmes.
“We have supported the Revenue Agency through employment of more staff and introduction of cashless revenue collection system to increase our revenue streams. There should be no excuse of not doubling their effort to meet the set targets,” he said.
He said during the last Financial Year, the County had set a target of Sh1.6 billion but ended up collecting Sh1.2 billion.
“In the previous Financial Year, we never achieved our target due to officers engaging in malpractices such as printing counterfeit receipts among others,” he said in Butere Sub County.
“The revenue agency team has undergone training aimed at sharpening their skills and understanding their work well. I am optimistic that with all this support the Sh2 billion revenue target will be achievable,” Oparanya said.
The Governor said the new cashless system of collecting proceeds should ensure an increase in revenue collection and that the targets go up because no officer will be handling direct cash.
Revenue agency board members present at the meeting included Stanley Ambia Alibe (Chairman), Directors, Josephat Lishenga, Celestine Busieka and James Atemba.
By John Ochanda
