The introduction and continued use of ICT infrastructure has seen counties move from manual revenue collection to automated system contributing to enhanced income streams and provision of services, it has emerged at the annual 2016 County Revenue Automation Conference.
The conference brings together the Commission on Revenue Allocation, the ICT Authority of Kenya and implementers of financial management and policies in all 47 counties.
“We’re beginning to realize the innovative use of ICT is solidly contributing to effectively manage revenue collection while at the same time sealing revenue leakages and address other gaps in the devolved county governments,” says Micah Cheserem, CRA Chairman at the annual County Revenue Automation Conference that has kicked off today in Mombasa County.
Kericho County has over the past year introduced CCTV surveillance at its revenue collection points to support its structured automated collection.
Kisumu County on the other hand fully automated its Single Business Permit applications, a factor that has seen the World Bank’s 2016 survey rank Kisumu as the best in doing business in Western Kenya.
The County has also introduced an E-construction permit, making it easy for investors to set shop after shortening the time previously taken to process documents.
Kiambu Governor William Kabogo, laid the progress made by Kiambu County in ICT infrastructure that has seen the County go cashless and seal revenue loopholes while enhancing collection efficiency. This has seen Kiambu revenue collection jump from Sh800 million to Sh2.7 billion in revenue within two years.
“Kiambu County has been digitized fully and experience from there shows that ICT is the way to go. Automated revenue collection requires commitment to ensure all collected revenue is banked in government coffers. It removes losses, pilferage, and poor collections," said Governor Kabogo while making his address at the conference.
The Commission is hosting the conference attended by over 200 county executive committee members of Finance and ICT, directors of revenue.
Speaking at the function, ICT Authority CEO Robert Mugo laid out the critical support the Authority has been according the Counties including provision of skills, hardware and ultimately quality assurance.
"We are working to introduce ICT standards that will be launched so that vendors register and provide basis for quality management and value for money. ICT teams must be comprised of competent and smart people," said Mr Mugo.
The ICT Authority this year handed over Smart County ICT Road maps and Hardware to all 47 Counties.