By Cyrus Ombati
The City Council of Nairobi has signed an agreement with two mobile phone service providers to enable electronic payment for provision of services.
A pilot test for the e-payment will be done next week ahead of the launch next month. Town Clerk Roba Duba (pictured) signed the agreement with Airtel and yu mobile yesterday in what he termed as a milestone in improvement of service delivery.
“We will start with parking tickets whereby motorists will now be required to pay electronically. This will be followed by other areas,” said Duba. He said the system is set to increase revenue collection, enhance convenience and address issues of corruption.
He said all motorists will be required to buy their tickets through mobile phones and that council inspectors will be patrolling to ensure compliance.
Those operating small businesses will also be required to pay for their permits electronically. He said the system would not lead to downsizing of the staff who work in the targeted departments.
Duba said automation of services at the council is their main goal and revealed failure to collect revenue has been negatively impacting delivery of services.
He said the council collects only 40 per cent of their targeted revenue.
“The potential is high once we go electronic and we target billions. We intend to educate the public on how they can use the services.”
The Town Clerk added they intend to privatise other services and cited garbage collection. He said the council pays Sh78 million to waste collectors instead of them paying the council, an issue he said he intends to reverse. Duba said the council plans to involve other stakeholders in managing services especially collection of revenue.
