KRA wants to collect revenue for counties

KISUMU, KENYA: The Kenya Revenue Authority is willing to help counties boost their revenue streams by collecting taxes on behalf of the devolved units.

The authority says it has proper infrastructure, and continues to better its systems, making it capable of extending a helping hand to counties.

On Tuesday, two commissioners who attended the sensitization of the authority’s staffs and stakeholders on its Seven Corporate Plan in Kisumu said they were confident that given that mandate, they are capable of delivering.

“We have the infrastructure to collect all the revenue, and even the constitution has outlined that there should be single collector of revenue. We have the infrastructure and are developing more capabilities for the country both at county and national level,” said Ruth Wachira, Acting Commissioner Domestic Taxes Department.

The sentiments came amid raging debates over the capacity of counties to ensure proper revenue collection, following recent reports which have shown dwindling revenue in many counties despite increased revenue streams.

Nairobi County Speaker Beatrice Elachi recently claimed that most counties could be declaring lower collection in order to give room for looting.