MOMBASA: 30th August, 2023
Nairobi County Executive for Finance and Economic Planning, Charles Kerich led the County’s finance team in a strategic workshop with the County Finance, Budget and Appropriations Committee chaired by Hon. Wilfred Odalo on the Finance Bill 2023.
Said Mr. Kerich “This bill is a very important document. It sets the schedule of fees and charges that Nairobi County is going to use as a tool for revenue raising measures. The possibility of working on any other Finance Bill going forward will be a challenge because there is a bill by the National Government through Senate that seeks to control introduction of county fees and charges going forward, it is therefore important that we have a comprehensive Finance bill 2023.
He further added that all the county sectors had been engaged and that the proposals in the document came from their respective sectors.
“Some of the charges are a small review upwards and some charges contained in the document, County had not been charging. Some charges have been reduced like the matatus that do not terminate in CBD. They should not be paying the same as those Matatus that terminate in CBD, ” said Mr. Kerich.
He shared that Sub County Finance Officers were included in the workshop to integrate them into the revenue administration. He added that one of the major challenges the sub county finance team had been facing was mobility. Going forward, the Finance Sector had come up with a plan to ensure that every sub county was provided with a vehicle to enhance revenue mobilization.
Mr. Kerich said, “Once we publish the Finance Bill, the next step is to produce a comprehensive schedule of fees and charges. Every Finance Bill publishes news fees and charges but don’t include historical fees and charges. Thus, what you find in 2015, will not contain what was charged in 2013 hence, the members of public may not get the full picture of our fees and charges. We will consolidate all the finance bills in the past and have one document that the public can refer to. ”
Mr. Kerich informed the Committee that, the Finance Sector had put in place reforms to ensure continuous improvement such as; all finance activities being embedded in the Ifmis platform and moving to e-procurement to ensure a smooth and seamless process.
“From 1st July 2023, we began moving to e-procurement. If we do e-budget, then e-procurement and e-accounting, the process will be more efficient and effective. Our officers have also been trained in that process. We are also going to allocate IFMIS rights per sector. That way, we have fewer Ifmis officers with rights to ensure accountability” he said.
He added that Nairobi County has filed its tax return online on Itax for the first time, and it is up to date.
Chief Officer Revenue Administration, Wilson Gakuya said ” We have gathered here to unpack Finance Bill 2023 and the law requires us that upon the approval of the Appropriations Bill, that the County within 90 days is supposed to pass the Finance Bill. The legal day lapses at the end of September, and we must be conscious about our timelines within which to deliver. ”
Mr. Gakuya stated that the Finance Bill is a culmination of an internal process from the sectors and it contains the revenue raised measures that is needed to put in place for the County to be able to collect revenue targets.
“In the Current Financial Year, our revenue target is Kshs 20B, and without proper mechanisms, we would not be able to achieve our targets,” he said.
Director, Revenue, Shaban Asman said, “The Finance Bill was submitted to the Committee who went through and highlighted issues which they either wanted clarification on or rectification, and the executive addressed them. We have corrected the document by referring only to either the principal act, which is Revenue Act 2015, or the mother act where those revenues are domiciled. ”
Some of the proposals in the document were; reduction of the fees paid by informal sector schools who have an option contained in the Trade Licence Act of paying per quarter, Single Business Permits would pay in installments and rates as well, as long as one does not have arrears.
The Chair of Finance, Budget & Appropriations Committee Hon. Wilfred Odalo, who chaired the meeting alongside Vice Chair Hon. Emily Oduor, Minority Whip Hon. Mark Mugambi and members of the Finance, Budget and Appropriations Committee lauded the Executive for the continued good working relationship they have with the Assembly.
Amongst issues raised by the Committee was to seek clarification on charging photography. In his response, Mr. Shaban said that “H.E the Governor gave the order of free photography, but it only applies to free-lance photographers, fees and charges apply to commercial photography and photo sessions done at the refurbished Uhuru Park”.
A member of the committee sought clarity on the issue of collecting revenue from private parking. In his response, Mr. Kerich said that it is contained in the Transport Act prepared by the roads and transport sector and that owners of private parking will pay the permit as a single business permit. He further assured the committee that the county has targets for the county revenue performance, and the only way to meet those targets is to ensure all the proposals are implemented.
Present was Head of Budget, Nancy Kiruri, Head of Revenue, Nixon Otieno, Director Asset Management, George Mwariri, Sub County Finance Officers and County Revenue Officers.
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