Nairobi 25th October 2024
Nairobi County Revenue Administration held a two-day intensive training for In-charges of markets revenue stream at CBK Pension Towers aimed at equipping them with modern strategies to enhance efficiency, focused on streamlining the collection and management of market Cess across the county’s 17 sub-counties in line with H.E Johnson Sakaja’s vision for a smart Nairobi.
Dr. John Ntoiti, Director for Revenue Administration and Acting CEO Nairobi Revenue Authority, addressing the market revenue in-charges stressed the importance of utilizing modern tools to foster accountability and transparency. He praised the in-charges for their commitment to maximize revenue collection, urging them to continue collaborating within their teams and to conduct regular surprise spot checks to ensure efficiency and adherence to revenue collection procedures.
He also emphasized the importance of maintaining strong relationships with traders to further improve compliance. “As heads of revenue collection in your streams, it’s essential to maintain a harmonious relationship with traders, which will further strengthen compliance,” he noted.
The Director expressed optimism for continued revenue growth on market cess collection from the recent data collected from markets and encouraged the officers to embrace the new systems, work together to overcome challenges, and minimize revenue leakages. “Together, we can keep driving consistency and growth in cess collection,” he added, reinforcing the need for unity and proactive measures to mobilize Cess collection.
Deputy Director Revenue Administration, Veronica Kaleche reinforced the county’s mission to build a sustainable, efficient, and transparent revenue collection. “Our collective aim is to build a revenue collection framework that is resilient, modern, and transparent. By adopting these tools, we not only safeguard the integrity of the revenue process but also ensure that every officer operates with the highest standards of accountability. The success of this system depends on each of us playing our part to eliminate inefficiencies and protect county resources. Together, we can transform how revenue is collected in Nairobi and ensure that the county’s future growth is built on a foundation of trust and efficiency.” She stated.
The two-day training conducted by Assistant Director Revenue Nixon Otieno addressed key areas such as target setting, transaction verification, and leveraging digital tools to streamline revenue collection. A critical aspect of the training was the emphasis on the revenue system that allows traders to pay cess remotely through platforms such as Nairobi Pay and MPESA, reducing the risks associated with cash handling and improving real-time data tracking and compliance.
Mr. Otieno guided the in-charges through the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) designed to standardize cess collection, ensuring accountability and preventing revenue leakages.
A performance review presented during the session showed promising growth in cess collections. “Our goal is to ensure that every shilling is accounted for, and these systems are helping us achieve that,” said Mr. Otieno.
The training also covered daily reconciliation procedures, mobile data entry for accuracy, and performance dashboards to monitor trends in revenue collection, with a focus on data-driven decision-making. He introduced surprise spot checks from the SOP, conducted by compliance officers to detect potential fraud and irregularities. “Surprise checks are essential for maintaining integrity and ensuring our officers remain vigilant,” he emphasized.
The session concluded with a focus on engaging traders and resolving grievances swiftly and transparently. Mr. Otieno highlighted that good relations with traders are crucial for compliance and smooth operations, as the county moves toward a more transparent and efficient revenue collection process aimed at driving continued growth.
Also present was Mr. Antony Oloo from the Bank Reconciliation team, Head of County Markets Revenue, Ochi Ondieki, who stressed the importance of daily reports from all market revenue in-charges. He highlighted that daily reconciliations will be conducted between the collections made at each market and the corresponding bank deposits.
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