The Kilifi county government has launched an ambitious programme aimed at collecting Sh2 billion in own-source revenue by the end of this financial year.
All the 598 county officials from various departments will be deployed across the county to ensure compliance among businesses and investors.
Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro warned that defaulters would be compelled to pay or risk arrest and prosecution.
According to Mung’aro, Kilifi has the potential to collect up to Sh4 billion in own-source revenue.
“This county can collect over Sh3 billion. For this exercise, we are targeting Sh2 billion,” he said.
Mung’aro made the remarks during the launch of a one-week revenue sensitisation exercise at the county headquartres.
The governor said the exercise would achieve two main objectives: gathering data on all businesses, properties and investments in the county, and ensuring a fully digitised, paperless revenue collection system.
“We want to achieve several things with this exercise. First, we want to ensure that all revenue payments are paperless,” he said.
“Second, our officers will be collecting data on all properties, including those that may not be recorded in county records or have not been paying their dues. They will check whether businesses and individuals have cleared their land rates, business licenses, water bills and other county revenue obligations.”
The governor said the team deployed includes revenue officers, county executive committee members, chief officers and officials from the municipalities and county water companies.
“We are involving everyone in this process. Every county officer must contribute to revenue collection because we all depend on these funds for salaries and allowances,” he said.
Kilifi Finance executive Yaye Shosi reiterated the importance of the exercise, noting that the county has consistently fallen short of its targets.
“In every financial year, Kilifi has never met its set revenue targets. For instance, this year, we are aiming for Sh2 billion. That’s why we have initiated this Rapid Results Initiative to ensure all officers are on the ground, closing the revenue gap and meeting the target,” she said.
She reiterated Mung’aro’s sentiments that the county has the potential to collect Sh4 billion annually.
“If we are serious about collection, we can achieve it. For this financial year and with this exercise, we aim to surpass the Sh2 billion,” Shosi said.
