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A wave of concern has swept through the Nairobi County Assembly as Members of County Assembly (MCAs) launch an investigation into the city’s revenue collection systems.
The move comes in response to a notable decrease in local revenue, prompting an ad hoc committee, established under standing order No.211, to delve into the intricacies of the existing systems.
The committee, chaired by Makongeni MCA, who also serves as the majority leader, is focused on uncovering the strengths and weaknesses of the current revenue collection mechanisms.
Key areas of interest include the organization of the system, the individuals responsible for revenue collection, and the skills they possess to manage the system effectively.
Meetings have already been initiated with crucial witnesses, such as County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) for Finance and ICT, County Officials, and service providers like Web Tribe (Jambo Pay), National Bank (Noveta), and KRA (Nairobi Pay). The committee is poised to engage various other witnesses to shed light on this pressing matter.
“We are alarmed to discover that the revenue systems have never been audited since their automation in 2013, making it impossible to accurately determine the actual revenue collected. Moreover, the ownership and administration details of Nairobi Pay remain elusive, raising serious concerns,” emphasized Imwatok.
The concerned Ward representatives highlighted the absence of a documented agreement between the Nairobi City County Government and Nairobi Pay. There are purported claims that officials from the National Government, who remain unidentified, are assumed to own the revenue system.
“We assure the citizens of Nairobi that the committee is steadfast and committed to uncovering the truth behind the issues perplexing revenue collection in Nairobi. We call upon Nairobians and Kenyans at large to embrace patriotism and volunteer any information regarding this matter. All witnesses are urged to cooperate and respond to the committee’s invitations to shed light on different issues,” declared Minority leader Antony Kiragu during a press conference at City Hall on Thursday.
The MCAs issued a stern caution against any attempts to frustrate or interfere with the committee’s mandate. Additionally, they called for a Public Forum at Charter Hall on the 13th and 14th of December 2023 to gather public views and salvage the county from the challenges posed by the revenue collection issues.
