NAIROBI, Kenya – Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has called on county governments to focus on enhancing revenue collection by adopting digital systems and addressing financial leakages.
Speaking at the 26th Ordinary Session of the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council on Monday, Kindiki emphasized that self-reliance in revenue generation is key to the sustainable growth of counties and the reduction of mounting bills.
Kindiki praised counties for making strides in improving their own-source revenue (OSR), with some surpassing the Sh1 billion mark in collections.
However, he urged all counties to set realistic revenue targets to avoid the accumulation of pending bills due to revenue shortfalls.
He stressed that embracing automation and digital solutions to streamline collection systems would significantly reduce inefficiencies and leakages.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki (second right) flanked by Governors Mutahi Kahiga (Nyeri), Kawira Mwangaza (Meru), Cecily Mbarire (Embu) and Muthomi Njuki (Tharaka Nithi) arrive for the 26th Ordinary Session of the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC), Karen,…
By implementing technology-driven approaches, counties can minimize over-reliance on government allocations, boosting their financial independence.
“Automation is the most reliable path toward reducing overreliance on exchequer releases,” the Deputy President stated.
He further encouraged counties to engage in constructive consultations with the national government in cases of delays, promoting collaboration and problem-solving.
To enhance the overall efficiency of county operations, Kindiki highlighted the importance of frequent consultations between county governors, the Controller of Budget, and the National Treasury.
The Deputy President underscored that such cooperation would lead to improved intergovernmental relations, facilitating better service delivery to the public.
“We have conducted a series of consultations between the Council of Governors, Controller of Budget, and the National Treasury in a bid to foster collaboration and streamline engagement between the key institutions,” Kindiki said.
In addition to revenue generation, Kindiki also praised counties for their involvement in the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) initiative.