Kirinyaga County launches Cashless Revenue Payment drive to boost collection
Kirinyaga county government has launched a massive revenue mobilization campaign that seeks to boost collection and prevent fund pilferage. The campaign dubbed “Mapema Ndio Best” aims at boosting revenue collection by getting all the traders to honour their obligations by paying necessary levies due to the county government before the March 31 deadline.
The drive began on Friday with sensitization roadshows that snaked through Kutus, Kagio, Sagana, Mutithi, Wanguru and Kimbimi towns. The campaign also seeks to reinforce Governor Anne Waiguru’s directive on a cashless payment system. Waiguru has asked traders and property owners to embrace the cashless-based culture by paying County fees such as parking, land rates, produce cess, parking, business permits, and market stall fees among others through electronic payment. Speaking during the roadshow County Executive Committee (CEC) member in charge of Finance and Economic Planning Jackeline Njogu asked all business owners to cooperate in paying necessary county levies because the county relies on revenue collected to fund development projects. She said so as to ensure roads are well maintained, there is uninterrupted health services and drug supplies in hospitals, supply of clean drinking water at homes, people must honour their obligations by paying county fees. “What we are asking is for people to pay for their licenses. All businesses must pay so that the county government can continue offering the much-needed services,” she said.
The CEC said the county government has a tax collection target of Ksh 550 million this year. She said currently the county is only collecting about 14 percent of due tax. “This year we are committed to collecting 100 percent of our tax projection, we have collected data and we have seen that majority of people doing business are not paying necessary levies,” she said. She said the county is adopting the cashless revenue payment system so as to boost collection and seal leakage. Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Planning CECM Rev. Samuel Kanjobe said the county government will act tough on all those who will not have paid land rates, and physical planning approvals by the March 31 deadline. He warned that non-compliance with lease land levies, physical planning laws and change of property use will attract heavy penalties.
His Sports, Culture and Social Services counterpart Dennis Muciimi said his department has intensified crackdown on all liquor outlets that have not complied with the County Liquor Licensing Act. Muciimi warned bar owners against attempts to run away from paying their accrued liquor license fees through the change of user of ownership of their facilities. “We have seen a trend where bar owners who have not paid for their licenses for two years now change the name of their outlets or come to register as new facilities. We will not accept this, all must pay the arrears,” he said. The CEC further asked Wine and Spirits outlet owners to ensure compliance with their license. He said the outlets are only allowed to sell takeaway liquor.
